Arthashastra 3.12.2 - Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 12, Sutra 2

Kautilya

Arthashastra 3.12.2: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 12, Sutra 2

Devanagari script

परचक्राटविकाभ्यां दुर्गराष्ट्रविलोपे वा प्रतिरोधकैर्वा ग्रामसार्थव्रजविलोपे चक्रयुक्तनाशे वा ग्राममध्याग्न्युदकाबाधे ज्वालावेगोपरुद्धे वा नावि निमग्नायां मुषितायां वा स्वयमुपरूढो नोपनिधिमभ्यावहेत् ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.12.2

Transliteration

paracakrāṭavikābhyāṃ durgarāṣṭravilope vā pratirodhakairvā grāmasārthavrajavilope cakrayuktanāśe vā grāmamadhyāgnyudakābādhe jvālāvegoparuddhe vā nāvi nimagnāyāṃ muṣitāyāṃ vā svayamuparūḍho nopanidhimabhyāvahet

Translation

Wenn aufgrund feindlicher Truppen oder Waldstämme; aufgrund des Verlustes einer Festung oder eines Gebietes; aufgrund gewaltsamer Behinderung; aufgrund der Vernichtung eines Dorfes, einer Karawane oder einer Herde; aufgrund des Untergangs von Wagen und Zugtieren; aufgrund von Feuer oder Überschwemmung mitten im Dorf; aufgrund einer Blockade durch den Ansturm der Flammen; oder wenn ein Boot sinkt oder geplündert wird—dann soll jemand, der selbst von solchen Ereignissen überwältigt ist, nicht gezwungen werden, das anvertraute Depositum zurückzuerstatten.

Word by Word

परचक्रenemy army

आटविकाभ्याम्by/through forest-tribes (forest people/brigands)

दुर्गfort

राष्ट्रkingdom/territory

विलोपेin the event of loss/plunder

वाor

प्रतिरोधकैःby obstructors/blockers

वाor

ग्रामvillage

सार्थcaravan

व्रजcattle-herd/drive

विलोपेin the event of plunder/loss

चक्रwheel

युक्तequipped/attached

नाशेin the event of destruction

वाor

ग्रामvillage

मध्यmiddle/within

अग्निfire

उदकwater

आबाधेin the event of affliction/calamity

ज्वालाflame

वेगforce/impetus

उपरुद्धेwhen blocked/obstructed

वाor

नाविin a boat/ship

निमग्नायाम्when sunk

मुषितायाम्when robbed

वाor

स्वयम्personally/by oneself

उपरूढःhaving boarded/embarked

नnot

उपनिधिम्a deposit (property kept in trust)

अभ्यावहेत्should not bring/produce (it)

Entities Mentioned

enemy forces

forest tribes

fort/territory

village

caravan

boat

FAQs

What principle of governance does this sutra encode regarding private obligations during crises?

It limits liability when performance is prevented by large-scale, uncontrollable events (war, disaster, mass violence), preventing unjust punishment and preserving social stability.

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