Arthashastra 3.13.22: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 22

Devanagari script

दासद्रव्यस्य ज्ञातयो दायादाः तेषामभावे स्वामी ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.13.22

Transliteration

dāsadravyasya jñātayo dāyādāḥ teṣām abhāve svāmī

Translation

Erben des Vermögens eines dāsa sind seine Verwandten; fehlen diese, erbt der Eigentümer/Herr.

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Word by Word

• दास-द्रव्यस्य: of the slave’s property
• Type: Noun
• Root: दास; द्रव्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (द्रव्य-शब्द); समासः—दासस्य द्रव्यम् (दासद्रव्यम्) तस्य

• ज्ञातयः: the kinsmen
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• दायादाः: are the heirs
• Type: Noun
• Root: दायाद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• तेषाम्: of them (of those kinsmen)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: षष्ठी बहुवचन

• अभावे: in (their) absence
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (in the absence of)

• स्वामी: the master/owner (becomes heir)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तृ/विधेय

Entities Mentioned

• dāsa
• kinsmen (jñātayaḥ)
• svāmin

More Details

FAQs

What does this sutra indicate about a dāsa’s legal capacity?

A dāsa can hold ‘property’ recognized by law, but succession is structured to prioritize kin and otherwise revert to the owner.

Why would the state specify this order?

To reduce disputes and clarify incentives around accumulation, custody, and claims after death.