Sutra 23

Devanagari script

गणिकाभरणमर्थं भोगं वापहरतोऽष्टगुणो दण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२३ ॥

Transliteration

gaṇikābharaṇam arthaṃ bhogaṃ vā apaharato 'ṣṭaguṇo daṇḍaḥ.

Translation

Whoever steals a courtesan’s ornaments, money, or her fee shall be punished with a fine eight times the value.

Word by Word

• गणिका-आभरणम्: the courtesan’s ornament(s)/jewellery
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणिका (स्त्री) ; आभरण (नपुं)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म) — ‘गणिकायाः आभरणम्’

• अर्थम्: property/wealth
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म)

• भोगम्: enjoyable goods/consumables
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive ‘or’)

• अपहरतः: of (a person) who steals/takes away
• Type: Verb (participle)
• Root: अप-हृ
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा/सम्बोधन?— यहाँ षष्ठी एकवचन (genitive singular) ‘of one who steals/abducts’ (agent in genitive with दण्डः)

• अष्ट-गुणः: eightfold (in amount)
• Type: Noun (numeral compound)
• Root: अष्ट ; गुण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा — दण्डः का विशेषणम्

• दण्डः: the penalty/fine
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विधेय)

Entities Mentioned

• gaṇikā
• offender (thief/defrauder)
• state enforcement

More Details

FAQs

Why protect a gaṇikā’s property with an enhanced (eightfold) penalty?

Because the profession is state-regulated and revenue-relevant; protecting its economic stability supports public order and fiscal interests.