Arthashastra 3.2.33: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 2, Sutra 33

Devanagari script

अपुत्रा पतिशयनं पालयन्ती गुरुसमीपे स्त्रीधनमायुःक्षयाद्भुञ्जीत ॥ कZ_०३.२.३३ ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.2.33

Transliteration

aputrā patiśayanaṃ pālayantī gurusamīpe strīdhanam āyuḥkṣayād bhuñjīta

Translation

Eine kinderlose Frau, die das Lager ihres Mannes wahrt (d. h. treu bleibt), darf ihr Strīdhana unter Aufsicht der Älteren bis zum Ende ihres Lebens nutzen.

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Word by Word

• अ-पुत्रा: a woman without a son (sonless)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक विशेषण (स्त्री)

• पति-शयनम्: the husband’s bed; marital cohabitation
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘पतेः शयनम्’

• पालयन्ती: maintaining/guarding (i.e., remaining faithful/keeping)
• Type: Verb (Participle)
• Root: पाल्
• Form: वर्तमाने कृदन्तः (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययः), परस्मैपदी धातु; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘पालयति’ = guarding/maintaining

• गुरु-समीपे: in the proximity/presence of the elders/guardian
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; ‘गुरोः समीपे’

• स्त्री-धनम्: a woman’s property (strīdhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘स्त्रियाः धनम्’

• आयुः-क्षयात्: upon the exhaustion/end of life
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी एकवचन; ‘आयुषः क्षयात्’ = on the depletion/end of life

• भुञ्जीत: should enjoy/use (it)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; आदेश/विधानार्थः

Entities Mentioned

• sonless woman
• elders/guardians (guru)
• husband (pati)

More Details

FAQs

Why is 'supervision of elders' included in the rule?

It functions as an administrative safeguard against fraud, coercion, or contested transfers, providing a recognized oversight mechanism.