Arthashastra 3.13.16: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 16

Devanagari script

तेनोदरदासाहितकौ व्याख्यातौ ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.13.16

Transliteration

tenodaradāsāhitakau vyākhyātau

Translation

Durch diesen Grundsatz werden auch die Fälle des Bauchsklaven, der seinen Unterhalt durch Dienst verdient, und des Ahitaka, der durch eine Vorauszahlung oder Verpflichtung gebunden ist, erklärt.

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Word by Word

• तेन: by that; thereby; with that (method/means)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; तृतीया-एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (instrumental sg. of tad)

• उदरदास: a ‘belly-slave’, i.e., a person compelled by hunger/need to serve for food
• Type: Noun
• Root: दास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-द्विवचन (as part of predicate with व्याख्यातौ); compound: उदरस्य दासः = one who is a slave for his belly (i.e., for food)

• आहितक: a maintained/retained dependent (a person kept in service/support)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहितक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-द्विवचन (paired with उदरदास; predicate with व्याख्यातौ)

• व्याख्यातौ: (the two) have been explained/defined
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-ख्या
• Form: लिट् (परिप्रयोगे/भूतार्थे); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष-द्विवचन; ‘have been explained/defined’

Entities Mentioned

• udaradāsa
• āhitaka
• judicial authority (implicit)

More Details

FAQs

What does ‘tena … vyākhyātau’ signal as a legal technique?

Extension by analogy: once a rule is stated, closely related categories are brought under the same rule to reduce loopholes and litigation.

Why classify dāsa-types administratively?

Classification standardizes judgments on redemption, penalties, and permissible transactions, improving predictability and enforcement.