Sutra 16

Devanagari script

प्राप्ताधिकारं गणिकां घतयतो निष्क्रयत्रिगुणो दण्डः ॥ ॥

Transliteration

prāptādhikāraṃ gaṇikāṃ ghatayato niṣkrayatriguṇo daṇḍaḥ

Translation

For killing a courtesan who has obtained official standing/authorization, the penalty is three times the redemption/buyout amount.

Word by Word

• प्राप्ताधिकारम्: a courtesan who has obtained official status/authorization
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: √आप् (आप्नोति) / अधिकार (अधि+√कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘प्राप्तः अधिकारः यस्याः सा’ इति (गणिकाम्) विशेषणम्

• गणिकाम्: courtesan
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणिका
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; कर्मपदम्

• घातयतः: of one who causes (her) to be killed
• Type: Verb (participle)
• Root: √हन् (हनति) → घातयति (णिच् causative)
• Form: वर्तमाने कृदन्तः (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययः), परस्मैपद-प्रयोगः; षष्ठी एकवचन (पुं/नपुं) — ‘घातयतः’ = ‘(तस्य) घातयतः’ = causing to be killed

• निष्क्रयत्रिगुणः: three times the ransom/redemption price
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्क्रय + त्रिगुण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; ‘निष्क्रयस्य त्रिगुणः’ इति दण्डस्य विशेषणम्

• दण्डः: the penalty/fine
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; कर्तृ/विधेयपदम्

Entities Mentioned

• gaṇikā (state-authorized)
• killer/offender
• state treasury/court (implied)

More Details

FAQs

What does ‘prāptādhikāra’ imply administratively?

That the person is formally recognized/authorized within the state system, which increases the state’s protective and punitive response to harms against them.