Chapter 3.20 turns gambling into a state-monitored monopoly: it punishes cheating and negligence, not participation, so the king gains order, intelligence, and revenue. Gambling is treated as an administrative risk to be made legible and governable, not a sin to be preached away. Ekamukha centralization under a Dyūtādhyakṣa increases surveillance and reduces dispersed disorder. Daṇḍa targets fraud (cheating, tampering, collusion) and violence; officials are liable for negligence. Over-severe penalties on losers are rejected because they shrink participation and push play underground. Kośa is explicit: the state’s share of winnings plus fees for instruments/services monetizes regulated vice. Observed cashflows and associations help identify gūḍhājīvin and other hidden economic actors. Prakīrṇaka fines extend the same urban-order logic to petty offences, integrating policing, courts, and revenue.
Sutra 1
द्यूताध्यक्षो द्यूतमेकमुखं कारयेत् ॥ कZ_०३.२०.०१ ॥
The superintendent of gambling shall have gambling conducted through a single authorized channel (single house/office).
Sutra 2
अन्यत्र दीव्यतो द्वादशपणो दण्डो गूढाजीविज्ञापनार्थम् ॥ कZ_०३.२०.०२ ॥
For gambling elsewhere (outside the authorized place), the fine is twelve paṇas—so as to identify and expose clandestine livelihoods.
Sutra 3
द्यूताभियोगे जेतुः पूर्वः साहसदण्डः पराजितस्य मध्यमः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.०३ ॥
In litigation arising from gambling, the winner is liable to the first sāhasa fine, and the loser to the middle sāhasa fine.
Sutra 4
बालिशजातीयो ह्येष जेतुकामः पराजयं न क्षमते इत्याचार्याः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.०४ ॥
The teachers say: “Such a person is of a childish disposition—eager to win and unable to tolerate defeat.”
Sutra 5
नेत्य् कौटिल्यः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.०५ ॥
Kauṭilya says: “No (that is not the correct view).”
Sutra 6
पराजितश्चेद्द्विगुणदण्डः क्रियेत न कश्चन राजानमभिसरिष्यति ॥ कZ_०३.२०.०६ ॥
If the defeated person is made liable to a double penalty, then no one will approach the king (with such quarrels).
Sutra 7
प्रायशो हि कितवाः कूटदेविनः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.०७ ॥
For gamblers are, for the most part, fraudulent players (cheaters).
Sutra 8
तेषामध्यक्षाः शुद्धाः काकणीरक्षांश्च स्थापयेयुः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.०८ ॥
Over them, supervisors of proven integrity should be appointed, and guards for the smallest stakes (kākaṇī) should also be stationed.
Sutra 9
काकण्यक्षाणामन्योपधाने द्वादशपणो दण्डः कूटकर्मणि पूर्वः साहसदण्डो जितप्रत्यादानमुपधौ स्तेयदण्डश्च ॥ कZ_०३.२०.०९ ॥
For substituting another stake in place of the deposited kākaṇī-stakes, the fine is twelve paṇas. For fraudulent acts, the earlier (prescribed) penalty for assaultive wrongdoing applies; and for reclaiming what was won by means of tampering, the penalty for theft applies as well.
Sutra 10
जितद्रव्यादध्यक्षः पञ्चकं शतमाददीत काकण्यक्षारालाशलाकावक्रयमुदकभूमिकर्मक्रयं च ॥ कZ_०३.२०.१० ॥
From the winnings, the superintendent shall take five per hundred (a 5% share). He shall also collect the regulated charges for the sale/fee of: kākaṇī-stakes, gaming-dice (akṣa), the gaming-board/ground (arālā), tally-sticks (śalākā), and the hiring of water, land/space, and labor.
Sutra 11
द्रव्याणामाधानं विक्रयं च कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०३.२०.११ ॥
He (the superintendent) shall manage the depositing/holding of valuables and also their sale.
Sutra 12
अक्षभूमिहस्तदोषाणां चाप्रतिषेधने द्विगुणो दण्डः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.१२ ॥
For not preventing defects/fraud relating to dice, the gaming-ground/board, or the player’s hand, the penalty is double.
Sutra 13
तेन समाह्वयो व्याख्यातः अन्यत्र विद्याशिल्पसमाह्वयात् । इति ॥ कZ_०३.२०.१३ ॥
Thus ‘samāhvaya’ (a wagered contest) has been explained—except for contests of learning and craft/skill. End.
Sutra 14
प्रकीर्णकं तु याचितकावक्रीतकाहितकनिक्षेपकाणां यथादेशकालमदाने यामच्छायासमुपवेशसंस्थितीनां वा देशकालातिपातने गुल्मतरदेयं ब्राह्मणं साधयतः प्रतिवेशानुवेशयोरुपरि निमन्त्रणे च द्वादशपणो दण्डः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.१४ ॥
As to miscellaneous offences: for failing to return, at the prescribed place and time, items that are begged/borrowed, hired, deposited for safekeeping, or entrusted; or for overstaying beyond the agreed place/time (even for a watch, shade-rest, sitting or lodging); and for compelling a Brāhmaṇa to render service due to a military post (gulma) or forced conveyance; and for inviting guests while bypassing one’s immediate and next-door neighbours— the fine is 12 paṇas.
Sutra 15
संदिष्टमर्थमप्रयच्छतो भ्रातृभार्यां हस्तेन लङ्घयतो रूपाजीवामन्योपरुद्धां गच्छतः परवक्तव्यं पण्यं क्रीणानस्य समुद्रं गृहमुद्भिन्दतः सामन्तचत्वारिंशत्कुल्याबाधामाचरतश्चाष्टचत्वारिंशत्पणो दण्डः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.१५ ॥
For not delivering what was specifically commissioned/ordered; for making improper physical contact with one’s brother’s wife; for going to a courtesan/actress maintained under another’s control; for purchasing goods that are forbidden to be traded/alienated by the seller; for breaking into a house; and for causing obstruction/damage to a neighbour’s watercourse/irrigation channel—the fine is 48 paṇas.
Sutra 16
कुलनीवीग्राहकस्यापव्ययने विधवां छन्दवासिनीं प्रसह्याधिचरतः चण्डालस्यार्यां स्पृशतः प्रत्यासन्नमापद्यनभिधावतो निष्कारणमभिधावनं कुर्वतः शाक्याजीवकादीन्वृषलप्रव्रजितान्देवपितृकार्येषु भोजयतः शत्यो दण्डः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.१६ ॥
For misappropriating property held as a family endowment/livelihood fund; for coercively violating a widow or a woman living by her own choice; for a Caṇḍāla touching an Ārya woman; for failing to raise alarm when danger is near; for raising an alarm without cause; and for feeding Śākyas, Ājīvikas and similar low-status renunciants in rites for gods or ancestors—the fine is 100 paṇas.
Sutra 17
शपथवाक्यानुयोगमनिषृष्टं कुर्वतः युक्तकर्म चायुक्तस्य क्षुद्रपशुवृषाणां पुंस्त्वोपघातिनः दास्या गर्भमौषधेन पातयतश्च पूर्वः साहसदण्डः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.१७ ॥
For administering an oath-interrogation without authorization; for assigning an eligible duty to an ineligible person (wrongful appointment/entrustment); for damaging the virility (castration) of small cattle/bulls; and for causing an enslaved woman’s pregnancy to be aborted by medicine—the ‘first’ (lowest) sāhasa fine applies.
Sutra 18
पितापुत्रयोर्दम्पत्योर्भ्रातृभगिन्योर्मातुलभगिनेययोः शिष्याचार्ययोर्वा परस्परमपतितं त्यजतः सार्थाभिप्रयातं ग्राममध्ये वा त्यजतः पूर्वः साहसदण्डः कान्तारे मध्यमः तन्निमित्तं भ्रेषयत उत्तमः सहप्रस्थायिष्वन्येष्वर्धदण्डाः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.१८ ॥
If a father and son, spouses, brother and sister, maternal uncle and sister’s son, or student and teacher abandon one another without justification; or if one abandons a member of a caravan or a person who has set out with the caravan, or abandons someone within a village—the lowest sāhasa fine applies; in wilderness/forest terrain, the middle grade applies; if the abandonment results in death, the highest grade applies. For other co-travellers, the penalty is half.
Sutra 19
पुरुषमबन्धनीयं बध्नतो बन्धयतो बन्धं वा मोक्षयतो बालमप्राप्तव्यवहारं बध्नतो बन्धयतो वा सहस्रं दण्डः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.१९ ॥
For detaining a person who is not legally liable to detention; for causing such detention; for releasing a detainee from custody; and for detaining (or causing the detention of) a minor not competent for legal transactions—the fine is 1,000 paṇas.
Sutra 20
पुरुषापराधविशेषेण दण्डविशेषः कार्यः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.२० ॥
Penalties shall be differentiated according to the particular person and the particular offence.
Sutra 21
तीर्थकरस्तपस्वी व्याधितः क्षुत्पिपासाध्वक्लान्तस्तिरोजनपदो दण्डखेदी निष्किंचनश्चानुग्राह्याः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.२१ ॥
Pilgrims, ascetics, the sick, those exhausted by hunger, thirst, or travel, strangers from other regions, those distressed by penalties, and the destitute are to be treated with favour and assistance.
Sutra 22
देवब्राह्मणतपस्विस्त्रीबालवृद्धव्याधितानामनाथानामनभिसरतां धर्मस्थाः कार्याणि कुर्युः न च देशकालभोगच्छलेनातिहरेयुः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.२२ ॥
For those connected with temples/deities, Brāhmaṇas, ascetics, women, children, the aged, the sick, and the unprotected who cannot present themselves, the dharmasthas shall carry out their legal business (proactively); and they shall not exploit them by pretexts of place, time, or enjoyment/fees.
Sutra 23
पूज्या विद्याबुद्धिपौरुषाभिजनकर्मातिशयतश्च पुरुषाः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.२३ ॥
Persons are worthy of honour by excellence in learning, intelligence, valour/initiative, lineage, and outstanding service (work/achievement).
Sutra 24
समाः सर्वेषु भावेषु विश्वास्या लोकसम्प्रियाः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.२४च्द् ॥
(They should be) even-handed in all matters, trustworthy, and held in public esteem.
Public order and market trust improve because gambling is confined to a supervised venue; cheating and violent escalation are deterred; concealed criminal livelihoods are exposed; and the treasury gains steady, non-disruptive revenue without driving subjects into clandestine play.
Unauthorized gambling elsewhere: 12 paṇa fine. In gambling disputes: winner pays the first sāhasadaṇḍa; loser pays the middle sāhasadaṇḍa (Kauṭilya rejects doubling the loser’s penalty). Tampering with stakes/coins (kākaṇyakṣa) by substitution: 12 paṇa; cheating: first sāhasadaṇḍa; if winnings are withheld via fraud: theft-penalty plus restitution. Official/house failure to prevent defects in dice-board-space-hand (akṣa-bhūmi-hasta-doṣa): double fine. Additional prakīrṇaka offences carry scheduled fines such as 12 paṇa and 48 paṇa for specified breaches.