Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 16

Devanagari script

काले तीर्थे चानिषृष्टतारिणः पादोनसप्तविंशतिपणस्तरात्ययः ॥ कZ_०२.२८.१६ ॥

Transliteration

kāle tīrthe cāniṣṛṣṭatāriṇaḥ pādonasaptaviṃśatipaṇas tarātyayaḥ

Translation

যথাযথ সময়ে এবং অনুমোদিত ঘাটে যদি মাঝি পার হতে না দেয়, তবে পারাপার বাধা দেওয়ার (তরাত্যয়) দণ্ড ছাব্বিশ ও এক-চতুর্থাংশ পণ।

Word by Word

• काले: at the (appointed) time
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (अधिकरण)

• तीर्थे: at the revenue office/collection point
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (अधिकरण)

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

• अनिषृष्टतारिणः: unauthorized ferrymen (who ferry without being duly permitted/cleared)
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: अनिषृष्टतारिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (कर्ता)

• पादोनसप्तविंशतिपणः: (a fine of) twenty-six and three-quarters paṇas
• Type: Noun (numeral/measure expression)
• Root: पादोनसप्तविंशतिपण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (विशेषण/प्रमाण)

• तरात्ययः: the offence/penalty relating to ferrying (ferry-transgression)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरात्यय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (विधेय)

Entities Mentioned

• ferryman/operator (tārin)
• users/travelers
• penal authority

More Details

FAQs

What administrative problem does this fine target?

Arbitrary denial of service—often a route to extortion, discrimination, or collusion—by making refusal a punishable offense.

What is the governance balance across 2.28.15 and 2.28.16?

Users are penalized for bypassing rules; operators are penalized for withholding lawful service—mutual accountability for system integrity.