Arthashastra 3.13.2: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 2

Devanagari script

परजनस्य पूर्वमध्यमोत्तमवधा दण्डाः क्रेतृश्रोतृऋणां च ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.13.2

Transliteration

parajanasya pūrva-madhyama-uttama-vadhā daṇḍāḥ kretṛ-śrotṛ-ṛṇāṃ ca

Translation

For dealing in another person (parajana), the punishments are graded as first, middle, and highest; and (liability extends) also to the buyer, the one who ‘listens/assents’ (intermediary or approver), and the creditor.

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Word by Word

• परजनस्य: of an outsider/foreigner (lit. of another person/people)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परजन
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग (समूहवाचकः)

• पूर्व: first/lowest (grade)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; (मध्यमोत्तमवधाः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• मध्यम: middle (grade)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; (…वधाः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• उत्तम: highest (grade)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; (…वधाः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• वधाः: executions/capital punishments
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; (दण्डाः इत्यस्य विशेष्य/समनाधिकरणम्)

• दण्डाः: penalties/punishments
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; (वाक्यस्य मुख्यपदम्—दण्डविधानम्)

• क्रेतृ: of buyers
• Type: Noun (agent)
• Root: क्री
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (क्रेतॄणाम्), पुंलिङ्ग; कर्तरि तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun)

• श्रोतृ: of hearers/witnesses
• Type: Noun (agent)
• Root: श्रु
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (श्रोतॄणाम्), पुंलिङ्ग; कर्तरि तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त

• ऋणां: of debts (i.e., in matters of debt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

Entities Mentioned

• another person (parajana)
• buyer
• intermediary/consenter (śrotṛ)
• creditor
• state/judge

More Details

FAQs

What policy tool is used here to curb abuses involving persons?

A graded penalty schedule plus extending culpability to the market participants (buyer/intermediary/creditor), not only the primary wrongdoer.