Sutra 3

Devanagari script

ग्रामादनिर्णयणमसम्पातं च सुरायाः प्रमादभयात्कर्मसु ञ्जिर्दिष्टानां मर्यादातिक्रमभयादार्याणामुत्साहभयाच्च तीष्क्णानाम् ॥ कZ_०२.२५.०३ ॥

Transliteration

grāmād anirṇayaṇam asampātaṃ ca surāyāḥ pramādabhayāt karmasu ñjirdiṣṭānāṃ maryādātikramabhayād āryāṇām utsāhabhayāc ca tīṣkṇānām

Translation

He should prevent (liquor) from being taken out to villages and prevent unregulated gatherings connected with liquor—out of fear of negligence in assigned duties, fear of boundary/limit violations by those posted for work, and fear that respectable persons may be provoked into excess by the harsh/impetuous.

Word by Word

ग्रामात्from the village

अनिर्णयणम्non-adjudication; failure to decide (a case)

असम्पातम्non-appearance; failure to come/attend

चand

सुरायाःof liquor; of intoxicating drink

प्रमादdue to negligence/heedlessness

भयात्from fear; due to fear

कर्मसुin (their) duties/works

ञ्जिः(uncertain reading/term) ‘ñjiḥ’

दिष्टानाम्of those assigned/appointed; of those directed

मर्यादाof the boundary/limit; of the prescribed rule

अतिक्रमof transgression/overstepping

भयात्from fear; due to fear

आर्याणाम्of the respectable/noble persons

उत्साहof zeal/initiative

भयात्from fear; due to fear

चand

तीक्ष्णानाम्of the harsh/strict (persons)

Entities Mentioned

surā (liquor)

grāma (village)

ārya (respectable persons)

FAQs

What is the core governance objective of restricting surā movement and gatherings?

To prevent intoxication-driven negligence, disorderly assemblies, and rule-breaking that threaten productivity and public order.

How does this reflect Kautilya’s approach to regulation?

Preventive control: manage risk upstream (distribution and congregation) rather than only punishing downstream harms.