Sutra 31

Devanagari script

मार्गविपर्यासे शवद्वारादन्यतश्च शवनिर्णयने पूर्वः साहसदण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.३६.३१ ॥

Transliteration

mārgaviparyāse śavadvārād anyataś ca śavanirṇayane pūrvaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ

Translation

For deviating from the prescribed route, for taking (a corpse) through a gate other than the corpse-gate, and for disposing of a corpse otherwise than as determined: the “first” sāhasa-penalty applies.

Word by Word

• मार्ग-विपर्यासे: when there is a deviation/alteration of the (corpse’s) route
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपर्यास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; ‘मार्गस्य विपर्यासे’ (मार्ग + विपर्यास)

• शव-द्वारात्: from the corpse-gate/door designated for the corpse
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचन; ‘शवस्य द्वारात्’

• अन्यतः: otherwise; from another place/route
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यतस्
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/दिशा-अर्थे

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

• शव-निर्णयने: in the determination/inquest regarding the corpse
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्णयन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; ‘शवस्य निर्णयने’

• पूर्वः: the first (i.e., lowest grade)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘पूर्वः’ = प्रथम/प्रथम-प्रकारः (दण्डभेदेषु)

• साहस-दण्डः: the penalty for violence/forcible wrongdoing (sāhasa-penalty)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘साहसस्य दण्डः’

Entities Mentioned

• corpse gate (śavadvāra)
• city gates
• mortuary officials/enforcers

More Details

FAQs

Why regulate routes and gates for corpse transport?

To isolate contamination, avoid panic/ritual offense in crowded areas, and enable monitoring against concealment of crime or improper disposal.

What does ‘pūrvaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ’ suggest?

A standardized graded penalty framework where violations are mapped to severity tiers, enabling consistent enforcement.