Sutra 9

Devanagari script

तत्र रत्नोपधाव् उत्तमो दण्डः कर्तुः कारयितुश्च सारोपधौ मध्यमः फल्गुकुप्योपधौ तच्च तावच्च दण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.५.०९ ॥

Transliteration

tatra ratnopadhāv uttamo daṇḍaḥ kartuḥ kārayituś ca; sāropadhau madhyamaḥ; phalgukupyopadhau tacca tāvacca daṇḍaḥ.

Translation

In cases of substitution/adulteration: for jewels, the highest fine applies—both to the doer and to the one who caused it to be done; for prime valuables, the middle fine; for minor and base goods, a fine proportionate to that value and to that extent.

Word by Word

तत्रthere; in that context

रत्नोपधौin the test involving jewels

उत्तमःhighest; most severe

दण्डःpunishment; penalty

कर्तुःof the doer (principal agent)

कारयितुःof the instigator; of the one who causes (another) to do

चand

सारोपधौin the test involving valuables/treasure

मध्यमःmiddle; moderate

फल्गुकुप्योपधौin the test involving trifles and base commodities

तत्that (penalty)

चand

तावत्so much; to that extent

चand

दण्डःthe penalty (is)

Entities Mentioned

perpetrator (kartuḥ)

instigator (kārayituḥ)

ratna

sāra

phalgu

kupya

FAQs

Why punish both the doer and the instigator?

It targets the full corruption chain—execution and command—preventing superiors from outsourcing wrongdoing while avoiding liability.

What is the administrative logic of scaling penalties by value class?

It aligns deterrence with fiscal risk: higher-value assets invite higher temptation and greater state loss, justifying stronger sanctions.