Sutra 32

Devanagari script

वानप्रस्थादन्यः प्रव्रजितभावः सजातादन्यः संघः सामुत्थायिकादन्यः समयानुबन्धो वा नास्य जनपदमुपनिविशेत ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३२ ॥

Transliteration

vānaprasthād anyaḥ pravrajitabhāvaḥ sajātād anyaḥ saṃghaḥ sāmutthāyikād anyaḥ samayānubandho vā nāsya janapadam upaniviśeta

Translation

No renunciant order other than the vānaprasthas, no association (saṃgha) composed of persons outside the local lineage/community, and no pact-bound/contractual collective other than a legitimate cooperative (sāmutthāyika) should be allowed to settle in the king’s countryside.

Word by Word

वानप्रस्थात्from a vānaprastha (forest-dweller)

अन्यःanother/different (person)

प्रव्रजित-भावःone having the status/condition of a renunciant

सजातात्from one of the same kind/stock (same community)

अन्यःanother/different

संघःan association/collective (corporate body)

सामुत्थायिकात्from a collectively arisen/collectively formed (group/undertaking)

अन्यःanother/different

समय-अनुबन्धःa bond based on an agreement/compact (contractual tie)

वाor

नnot

अस्यof him/of this (king/state)

जनपदम्the territory/realm (country)

उपनिविशेतshould settle/establish himself (in)

Entities Mentioned

vānaprastha

pravrajita groups

saṃgha (association)

sāmutthāyika (cooperative)

samaya-anubandha collectives

janapada (countryside)

FAQs

Why restrict outside saṃghas and pact-bound groups from settling?

They can form autonomous power centers, mobilize followers, and undermine taxation, policing, and loyalty—creating ‘state within a state’ risks.

Why exempt vānaprasthas and recognized cooperatives?

They are treated as less politically disruptive: vānaprasthas are socially legible and limited, while cooperatives can be economically productive and monitorable.