Sutra 28

Devanagari script

अपत्यदारं मातापितरौ भ्रातृऋनप्राप्तव्यवहारान्भगिनीः कन्या विधवाश्चाबिभ्रतः शक्तिमतो द्वादशपणो दण्डः अन्यत्र पतितेभ्यः अन्यत्र मातुः ॥ कZ_०२.०१.२८ ॥

Transliteration

apatya-dāraṃ mātā-pitarau bhrātṛ-ṛṇa-prāpta-vyavahārān bhaginīḥ kanyā vidhavāś cābibhṛrataḥ śaktimataḥ dvādaśa-paṇo daṇḍaḥ anyatra patitebhyaḥ anyatra mātuḥ

Translation

For a capable person who fails to maintain his children and wife, his mother and father, his brother (when entitled), creditors with legally due claims, and also his sister, an unmarried daughter, and widows—there shall be a fine of twelve paṇas; except in the case of those who have become outcast/fallen, and except the mother (who is not to be excluded).

Word by Word

• अपत्यदारम्: children and wife
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपत्य; दार
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘अपत्य’ + ‘दार’ समाहार/इतरइतरे द्वन्द्वः; कर्मपदम् (भरणविषयः)

• माता: mother
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (समुच्चयार्थे सूची)

• पितरौ: (the) father (two-form used with माता in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन, प्रथमा

• भ्रातॄन्: brothers
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया

• अप्राप्तव्यवहारान्: those who have not attained legal/transactional capacity
• Type: Adjective (compound)
• Root: प्राप्; व्यवहार
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः: ‘अप्राप्त’ (न प्राप्तः) + ‘व्यवहार’ (व्यवहारः/व्यवहार-योग्यता) → ‘अप्राप्तव्यवहार’ = येषां व्यवहारः (स्वतन्त्र-व्यवहार-योग्यता) न प्राप्तः

• भगिनीः: sisters
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगिनी
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया

• कन्याः: unmarried girls/daughters
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया

• विधवाः: widows
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधवा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• अबिभ्रतः: of one who does not maintain (them)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ
• Form: लट्-लकार/वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त-प्रयोगः; ‘अ’ उपसर्ग? (निषेध/अभावार्थे) + बिभ्रत् (भृ धातोः शतृ-प्रत्ययः) → ‘अबिभ्रत्’ (न बिभ्रत्) ; षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे/कर्तरि: ‘(तस्य) अबिभ्रतः’ = ‘not maintaining’ (genitive singular of present participle used substantively)

• शक्तिमतः: of a capable/able (person)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्तिमत्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, षष्ठी; विशेषणम् (अबिभ्रतः)

• द्वादशपणः: (a) twelve-paṇa (amount)
• Type: Noun (compound numeral)
• Root: द्वादश; पण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; ‘द्वादश’ + ‘पण’ (मूल्य-एकक)

• दण्डः: penalty/fine
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; विधेयपदम्

• अन्यत्र: except
• Type: Adverb
• Root: अन्यत्र
• Form: अपवादार्थक अव्यय (‘except/otherwise than’)

• पतितेभ्यः: (in the case of) outcastes / those fallen (from status)
• Type: Noun/Adjective (past participle used substantively)
• Root: पतित
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, पञ्चमी/षष्ठी?; ‘अन्यत्र’ इत्यस्य योगे पञ्चमी बहुधा: ‘पतितेभ्यः’ = ‘from/than the fallen’ (i.e., except in case of outcastes)

• अन्यत्र: except
• Type: Adverb
• Root: अन्यत्र
• Form: अपवादार्थक अव्यय

• मातुः: (the) mother
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, षष्ठी/पञ्चमी; ‘अन्यत्र’ इत्यस्य योगे पञ्चमी-भावः: ‘मातुः’ = ‘(except) from/than the mother’ (i.e., mother is an exception to the exception)

Entities Mentioned

• capable householder (implicit)
• children
• wife
• parents
• brother
• creditors
• sister
• unmarried daughter
• widows
• rājā (as enforcer, implied)

More Details

FAQs

What is the political logic of fining neglect of dependents?

It converts household welfare into enforceable public policy: preventing destitution that would otherwise burden the state and destabilize social order.

Why mention creditors alongside family dependents?

Because honoring legally due claims sustains trust in transactions; credit discipline is treated as a pillar of economic governance.