Sutra 23

Devanagari script

प्रदीप्तमनभिधावतो गृहस्वामिनो द्वादशपणो दण्डः षट्पणोऽवक्रयिणः ॥ कZ_०२.३६.२३ ॥

Transliteration

pradīptam anabhidhāvato gṛhasvāmino dvādaśapaṇo daṇḍaḥ ṣaṭpaṇo 'vakrayiṇaḥ

Translation

If a householder does not run toward (and respond to) a fire when it is blazing, the fine is 12 paṇas; for one who shirks/evades duty, 6 paṇas.

Word by Word

• प्रदीप्तम्: (a fire) that has flared up / is blazing
• Type: Participle (Verbal adjective)
• Root: प्र-दीप्
• Form: कर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘प्रदीप्त’ = ‘प्रज्वलित’

• अनभिधावतः: of (one) not rushing to it (to respond)
• Type: Participle (Verbal adjective)
• Root: अभि-धाव्
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) with नञ्-प्रत्यय; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘अनभिधावतः’ = ‘not running towards (it), not rushing to (extinguish)’

• गृहस्वामिनः: of the house-owner
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह + स्वामिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘गृहस्य स्वामी’

• द्वादशपणः: (is) twelve-paṇa (in amount)
• Type: Noun (numeral-compound)
• Root: द्वादश + पण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; दण्डस्य विशेषणम्

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

• षट्पणः: (is) six-paṇa (in amount)
• Type: Noun (numeral-compound)
• Root: षट् + पण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (दण्डः) इति अनुवर्तते

• अवक्रयिणः: of the under-buyer / one who buys at a reduced price
• Type: Agent noun (कृदन्त)
• Root: अव-√क्री (क्रय)
• Form: कृदन्त: ‘क्रयिन्’ (agent/buyer) with उपसर्ग ‘अव-’; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘अवक्रयिन्’ = ‘one who buys/obtains at a reduced price; under-buyer’

Entities Mentioned

• householders
• municipal enforcement

More Details

FAQs

What principle is reflected by different fines (12 vs 6 paṇas)?

Graduated liability: stronger punishment for outright non-response; lesser for partial avoidance—calibrating deterrence to culpability.