Sutra 41

Devanagari script

स्त्रियं दासीमधिमेहयतां पूर्वः साहसदण्डः अदासीं मध्यमः कृतावरोधामुत्तमः कुलस्त्रियं वधः ॥ कZ_०२.३६.४१ ॥

Transliteration

striyaṃ dāsīm adhimehayatāṃ pūrvaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ, adāsīṃ madhyamaḥ, kṛtāvarodhām uttamaḥ, kulastriyaṃ vadhaḥ.

Translation

For violating a female slave, the ‘lowest’ sāhasa fine applies; for a non-slave woman, the ‘middle’ sāhasa fine; for a woman kept under confinement/seclusion (i.e., where access is forcibly obstructed/controlled), the ‘highest’ sāhasa fine; for violating a respectable family woman (kulastrī), the penalty is death.

Word by Word

स्त्रियम्a woman (as the object/victim)

दासीम्a female slave

अधिमेहयताम्(for two persons) who commit ‘adhimeha’ upon (a woman) (a specified sexual outrage/indecent act)

पूर्वःthe first (lowest)

साहसदण्डःthe fine/penalty for violent outrage (sāhasa-penalty)

अदासीम्a non-slave woman (a free woman)

मध्यमःthe middle (grade)

कृतावरोधाम्a woman who is confined/secluded (kept under restraint)

उत्तमःthe highest (grade)

कुलस्त्रियम्a respectable family woman

वधःdeath (capital punishment)

Entities Mentioned

women (various legal statuses)

FAQs

What administrative logic drives the gradation?

Kauṭilya ties punishment to perceived social injury and security breach (especially intrusion into guarded/secluded households and elite lineages).

What niti concept is visible (even if ethically problematic today)?

Deterrence through differential valuation of social order; law is used to protect hierarchy and household integrity as state interests.