Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 30

Devanagari script

लुप्तव्यायामः प्रव्रजेदापृच्छ्य धर्मस्थान् ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३० ॥

Transliteration

luptavyāyāmaḥ pravrajed āpṛcchya dharmasthān

Translation

যার নির্ধারিত কাজ-কর্তব্য লুপ্ত হয়েছে (বা যিনি তা থেকে অব্যাহতি পেয়েছেন), তিনি ধর্মস্থদের (বিচারক কর্তৃপক্ষ) কাছে জানিয়ে/অনুমতি নিয়ে তবেই প্রব্রজ্যা (সন্ন্যাস) গ্রহণ করে প্রস্থান করবেন।

Word by Word

• लुप्तव्यायामः: one whose training/exercise has lapsed; an untrained person
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: लुप्त (लुप्) + व्यायाम (√यम्/आ-यम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (व्यायामः लुप्तः यस्य सः)

• प्रव्रजेत्: should go away / should depart
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√व्रज्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; ‘should go forth/should leave’

• आपृच्छ्य: having asked; after taking leave
• Type: Gerund (Absolutive)
• Root: आ√पृच्छ्
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम्; ‘having asked/after taking leave’

• धर्मस्थान्: the courts / judicial authorities
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मस्थान
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-बहुवचनम्; ‘धर्मस्य स्थानम्’ इति समासः; कर्मपदम् (आपृच्छ्य)

Entities Mentioned

• dharmastha (judge/legal officer)
• person seeking pravrajyā

More Details

FAQs

What is the role of dharmasthas here?

They function as the state’s legal checkpoint—recording/approving departures so obligations, disputes, and dependents are not abandoned.

What is the policy logic behind requiring leave/notice?

To prevent evasion of duties, debts, or legal cases by disappearing under the cover of renunciation.