Sutra 22

Devanagari script

देवब्राह्मणतपस्विस्त्रीबालवृद्धव्याधितानामनाथानामनभिसरतां धर्मस्थाः कार्याणि कुर्युः न च देशकालभोगच्छलेनातिहरेयुः ॥ कZ_०३.२०.२२ ॥

Transliteration

devabrāhmaṇatapasvistrībālavṛddhavyādhitānāmanāthānāmanabhisaratāṃ dharmasthāḥ kāryāṇi kuryuḥ na ca deśakālabhogacchalenātihareyuḥ

Translation

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.

Word by Word

देवgod; deity

ब्राह्मणBrahmin

तपस्विascetic; one practicing austerities

स्त्रीwoman

बालchild; minor

वृद्धold person; elderly

व्याधितsick person; afflicted

तानाम्of those

अनाथानाम्of the helpless; of those without a protector

अनभिसरताम्of those who do not approach/come forward (to the court)

धर्मस्थाःthe judges; the judicial officers

कार्याणिcases; matters; duties

कुर्युःshould do; should carry out

नnot

चand

देशplace; locality; jurisdiction

कालtime

भोगenjoyment; benefit; gain

छलेनby deceit; by a pretext/trick

अतिहरेयुःshould not take away excessively; should not misappropriate

Entities Mentioned

dharmastha (judge/justice)

women

children

elderly

sick

unprotected persons

religious persons/institutions

FAQs

What concrete administrative rule is stated here?

Judges must provide outreach adjudication for those unable to appear, and must not extract extra benefits by procedural pretexts (venue, timing, or fee-perquisites).