Sutra 39

Devanagari script

मिथ्यावादे स्तेयदण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.७.३९ ॥

Transliteration

mithyāvāde steyadaṇḍaḥ

Translation

For false testimony/false statement, the penalty is that prescribed for theft.

Word by Word

• मिथ्यावादे: in the case of false statement / false testimony
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथ्यावाद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of circumstance)

• स्तेयदण्डः: the theft-penalty (i.e., the same punishment as for theft)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेयदण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Entities Mentioned

• witness/official making statements
• court/administration

More Details

FAQs

What is the political-administrative logic of equating false speech with theft?

False statements can steal outcomes—property, office, or justice—by corrupting decisions; thus the harm is treated as property-theft in effect.