Sutra 20

Devanagari script

आकरिकमपहरन्तमष्टगुणं दापयेदन्यत्र रत्नेभ्यः ॥ कZ_०२.१२.२० ॥

Transliteration

ākarikamapaharantamaṣṭaguṇaṃ dāpayedanyatra ratnebhyaḥ

Translation

If a mine-worker/leaseholder steals, he should be made to pay eightfold—except in the case of gems (where a different rule applies).

Word by Word

• आकरिकम्: a mine/ore-deposit worker or officer (one connected with the mine)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: आकरिक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (कर्मपद) — ‘आकरिक’ (आकर-सम्बद्धः/आकरकर्मचारी)

• अपहरन्तम्: (one) stealing / misappropriating
• Type: Verb (participle)
• Root: अप-हृ
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः; शतृ-प्रत्यय (परस्मैपदी); एकवचन; द्वितीया; पुंलिङ्ग — ‘अपहरन्’ = ‘stealing/embezzling’

• अष्टगुणम्: eightfold (as a fine/penalty)
• Type: Adjective/Numeral compound
• Root: अष्टगुण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया — ‘अष्टगुण’ = ‘eightfold (as penalty)’

• दापयेत्: should cause (him) to pay / should levy (from him)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (प्रयोजक)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञार्थ/विध्यर्थ); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोजक — ‘दापयति’ = ‘cause to pay/levy’

• अन्यत्र: except / otherwise than
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र
• Form: अव्यय; अपवादार्थे ‘except/otherwise than’

• रत्नेभ्यः: from/with respect to jewels (precious stones)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; पञ्चमी (अपादान/अपवाद) — ‘from/with regard to jewels’

Entities Mentioned

• Mine personnel/contractors
• Gems (ratna)

More Details

FAQs

Why an eightfold penalty?

Resource theft directly reduces royal revenue; a multiple fine deters collusion and compensates enforcement and lost output.

Why might gems be treated differently?

Gems are high-value, easily concealable, and strategically important; the text signals a special, likely stricter or differently structured regime.