Sutra 10

Devanagari script

वर्णहीने माषावरे पूर्वः साहसदण्डः प्रमाणहीने मध्यमः तुलाप्रतिमानोपधाव् उत्तमः कृतभाण्डोपधौ च ॥ कZ_०२.१४.१० ॥

Transliteration

varṇahīne māṣāvare pūrvaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ pramāṇahīne madhyamaḥ tulāpratimānopadhāv uttamaḥ kṛtabhāṇḍopadhau ca

Translation

For deficiency in grade/colour (quality) or for a shortfall of a māṣa, the lowest amercement for fraud is imposed; for deficiency in standard measure, the middle amercement; and for fraud involving scales/standard weights or in tampering with manufactured vessels, the highest amercement.

Word by Word

• वर्णहीने: in (a case of) deficient colour/appearance (quality)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण + हीन
• Form: सप्तमी एकवचनम् (नपुं/पुं/स्त्री—सामान्यतः नपुंसक/पुं), विशेषणम्; ‘वर्ण’ (गुण/रङ्ग/वर्णन-चिह्न) + ‘हीन’ (विहीन)

• माषावरे: in (a case of) being short by a māṣa (weight/measure)
• Type: Noun (used adjectivally)
• Root: माष + अवर
• Form: सप्तमी एकवचनम्; ‘माष’ (माषक-मान/वजन-एकक) + ‘अवर’ (न्यून/कम)

• पूर्वः: the first (grade)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचनम् पुं; ‘पूर्व’ = प्रथम/आद्य

• साहसदण्डः: the sāhasa-penalty (fine prescribed for the offence)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साहस + दण्ड
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचनम् पुं; ‘साहस’ (दण्डनीय-अपकर्म/अपराध-प्रकार) + ‘दण्ड’ (दण्ड/दण्डराशि)

• प्रमाणहीने: in (a case of) deficient measure/standard
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमाण + हीन
• Form: सप्तमी एकवचनम्; ‘प्रमाण’ (मान/माप/प्रमाण) + ‘हीन’ (न्यून)

• मध्यमः: the middle (grade)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: मध्यम
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचनम् पुं; ‘मध्यम’ = द्वितीय/मध्य-स्तर

• तुला: a balance (scale)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुला
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचनम् स्त्री (समास-पूर्वपदत्वेन)

• प्रतिमान: a standard weight/measure
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति + मान (मान)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् नपुं (समास-पूर्वपदत्वेन); ‘प्रतिमान’ = मानक/standard weight or measure

• उपधौ: in (a case of) fraud/deception
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपधा
• Form: सप्तमी एकवचनम् स्त्री; ‘उपधा’ = छल/कपट/मिश्रणादि द्वारा ठगी

• उत्तमः: the highest (grade)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचनम् पुं; ‘उत्तम’ = तृतीय/श्रेष्ठ-स्तर

• कृतभाण्ड: manufactured goods/wares
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: कृत + भाण्ड
• Form: समास-पूर्वपद; ‘कृत’ (निर्मित/कृत्रिम) + ‘भाण्ड’ (पात्र/वस्तु/उत्पाद)

• उपधौ: in (a case of) fraud
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपधा
• Form: सप्तमी एकवचनम् स्त्री; (पुनरुक्त)

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

Entities Mentioned

• traders/metalworkers
• inspectors
• state judiciary/administration

More Details

FAQs

How are penalties scaled across different kinds of fraud?

Minor quality/weight shortfalls get the lowest fine; measure deficiency gets a middle fine; tampering with scales/standard weights or manufactured vessels gets the highest fine.

What is the policy rationale for the highest penalty?

Tampering with standards (scales/weights) undermines the entire market’s trust infrastructure.