Sutra 56

Devanagari script

वधः परिक्लेशोऽर्थहरणं दण्डः । इति ॥ कZ_०२.१०.५६ ॥

Transliteration

vadhaḥ parikleśo'rthaharaṇaṃ daṇḍaḥ | iti

Translation

Killing, harassment/torment, and confiscation of wealth—these constitute coercive punishment (daṇḍa).

Word by Word

• वधः: killing; execution (death penalty)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• परिक्लेशः: affliction; torture; severe hardship (as a punishment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि+क्लिश् (क्लेश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• अर्थहरणम्: taking away of property; confiscation
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृ (हरण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• दण्डः: punishment; penalty; chastisement
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• इति: thus; so (end-quotative)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: निपातः; उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थकः

Entities Mentioned

• daṇḍa (punishment/state coercion)
• artha (property/wealth)

More Details

FAQs

What spectrum of enforcement does Kautilya include under ‘daṇḍa’ here?

A graded set: physical elimination, sustained pressure/harassment, and economic sanctions via confiscation.