Sutra 46

Devanagari script

कर्मणा कायदण्डेन हिरण्यानुग्रहेण वा ॥ कZ_०२.३६.४६च्द् ॥

Transliteration

karmaṇā kāyadaṇḍena hiraṇyānugraheṇa vā

Translation

Relief/release may be effected by compulsory work, by corporal punishment, or by monetary consideration (payment).

Word by Word

• कर्मणा: by work; by service; through action (as a means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• कायदण्डेन: by corporal punishment; by physical penalty
• Type: Noun
• Root: कायदण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• हिरण्य: money; gold; treasure
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• अनुग्रहेण: by favour; by a grant/leniency
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुग्रह
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

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

Entities Mentioned

• prisoners/offenders
• state treasury (implied)

More Details

FAQs

What does this triad (work/corporal/money) show about Kautilya’s penal administration?

A pragmatic menu of sanctions: extract labour, impose physical deterrence, or secure revenue—allowing the state to choose the administratively efficient option for order and fiscal stability.