Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 16

Devanagari script

वेतनेषु च कर्मकराणामपराधतो दण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.२३.१६ ॥

Transliteration

vetaneṣu ca karmakarāṇām aparādhato daṇḍaḥ

Translation

মজুৰিৰ বিষয়তো শ্ৰমিকৰ দণ্ড তেওঁলোকৰ দোষ অনুসাৰে হ’ব।

Word by Word

• वेतनेषु: in/with respect to wages
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेतन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-बहुवचन; (अधिकरण)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• कर्मकराणाम्: of the labourers/workmen
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मकर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन; (सम्बन्ध)

• अपराधतः: due to an offence/fault
• Type: Noun (used adverbially)
• Root: अपराध
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणार्थे (ablative of cause)

• दण्डः: a penalty/punishment (is prescribed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; (कर्तृ/विधेय)

Entities Mentioned

• laborers/workmen
• adjudicating authority (implicit)

More Details

FAQs

How does this sutra guide administrators handling wage disputes?

It instructs them to assess culpability rather than apply flat penalties—creating a scalable enforcement system aligned with evidence and degree of breach.