Sutra 17

Devanagari script

गम्येन वा पुंसा सह प्रस्थाने चतुर्विंशतिपणः सर्वधर्मलोपश्च अन्यत्र भर्मदानतीर्थगमनाभ्याम् ॥ कZ_०३.४.१७ ॥

Transliteration

gamyena vā puṃsā saha prasthāne caturviṃśatipaṇaḥ sarvadharmalopaś ca anyatra bharmadāna-tīrthagamanābhyām

Translation

If a woman departs together with a man who is a prohibited/unsuitable partner (gamyena), the penalty is 24 paṇas and loss of all legal claims/privileges (civil disqualification), except when the departure is for giving maintenance/support (bharmadāna) or for going on pilgrimage.

Word by Word

• गम्येन: to/with the destination (place to be gone to)
• Type: Noun (verbal adjective/gerundive)
• Root: गम्
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; गम्य (gerundive) = ‘to be gone to/fit to be approached’

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

• पुंसा: with a man/person (traveller)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस्
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘man/person’

• सह: together with
• Type: Postposition/indeclinable
• Root: सह
• Form: सह + तृतीया (instrumental)

• प्रस्थाने: at the time of departure / on setting out
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रस्थान
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘departure/journey-start’

• चतुर्विंशतिपणः: (there is) a fine of twenty-four paṇas
• Type: Noun (numeral compound)
• Root: चतुर्विंशति + पण
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘(fine) of twenty-four paṇas’

• सर्वधर्मलोपः: and forfeiture of all rights/entitlements
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: सर्व + धर्म + लोप
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘loss/forfeiture of all dharmas/rights’

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• अन्यत्र: except / otherwise than
• Type: Adverb
• Root: अन्यत्र
• Form: अपवादार्थक अव्यय

• भर्मदानतीर्थगमनाभ्याम्: except in the two cases of ‘bharmadāna’ and going on pilgrimage
• Type: Noun (compound, dual)
• Root: भर्मदान + तीर्थगमन
• Form: तृतीया-द्विवचन; ‘by/for the two (cases): bharmadāna and tīrthagamana’

Entities Mentioned

• woman
• man (prohibited/unsuitable partner)
• state/judicial authority

More Details

FAQs

What is the state’s response when a woman leaves with an improper/prohibited man?

A monetary fine (24 paṇas) plus civil/legal forfeiture, with limited exceptions for maintenance-related travel or pilgrimage.

Why do exceptions matter here?

They prevent penalizing socially legitimate mobility (support/maintenance arrangements and religious travel) while still discouraging destabilizing elopements.