Sutra 20

Devanagari script

चोराणामभिप्रधर्षणे चित्रो घातः ॥ कZ_०२.५.२० ॥

Transliteration

corāṇām abhipradharṣaṇe citro ghātaḥ

Translation

Für Diebe, die einen gewaltsamen Überfall bzw. eine erschwerte Aggression begehen, ist die Hinrichtung nach der Methode „citra“ (exemplarisch/variierend, d. h. besonders auffällig) vorgeschrieben.

Word by Word

• चोराणाम्: of thieves / of robbers
• Type: Noun
• Root: चोर
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive plural), पुंलिङ्ग

• अभिप्रधर्षणे: in/at the act of violent assault; during a forcible attack
• Type: Noun (action noun)
• Root: अभि-प्र-धृष्
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Locative singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग; धातु-निर्मित-भाववाचक-शब्द (from √धृष् with prefixes अभि+प्र)

• चित्रः: extraordinary; conspicuous; exemplary
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Nominative singular), पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (qualifying घातः)

• घातः: killing; execution (capital punishment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घात
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Nominative singular), पुंलिङ्ग

Entities Mentioned

• thieves
• victims
• state penal authority

More Details

FAQs

Why specify ‘citra’ execution for violent thieves?

To maximize deterrence through visibility/exemplarity when the crime threatens public security beyond mere property loss.