Sutra 5

Devanagari script

सहग्राहिणः प्रतिभुवः कर्मोपजीविनः पुत्रा भ्रातरो भार्या दुहितरो भृत्याश्चास्य कर्मच्छेदं वहेयुः ॥ कZ_०२.७.०५ ॥

Transliteration

sahagrāhiṇaḥ pratibhuvaḥ karmopajīvinaḥ putrā bhrātaro bhāryā duhitaro bhṛtyāś cāsya karmacchedaṃ vaheyuḥ.

Translation

His co-receivers/associates, sureties, those who live off his office, and (where applicable) his sons, brothers, wife, daughters, and servants shall bear the cut-off/forfeiture arising from his official misconduct (i.e., share liability or suffer loss when the office-holder is penalized).

Word by Word

सहग्राहिणःco-takers / co-obligors (jointly liable parties)

प्रतिभुवःsureties / guarantors

कर्मोपजीविनःthose who live by (his) work/earnings; dependents maintained by his occupation

पुत्राःsons

भ्रातरःbrothers

भार्याwife

दुहितरःdaughters

भृत्याःservants

चand

अस्यof him / his

कर्मच्छेदम्breach/default in the obligation (interruption/non-performance of the work/transaction)

वहेयुःshould bear / should carry (the liability)

Entities Mentioned

pratibhu (surety)

sahagrāhin (associate)

FAQs

Why extend liability beyond the official to associates and dependents?

To deter collusive embezzlement and prevent concealment of gains within the official’s network; it also incentivizes sureties and household members to monitor behavior.

What modern control does this resemble?

Surety bonds and joint-and-several liability for fraud beneficiaries, combined with asset forfeiture from connected recipients.