Sutra 16

Devanagari script

जीवद्विभागे पिता नैकं विशेषयेत् ॥ कZ_०३.५.१६ ॥

Transliteration

jīvadvibhāge pitā naikaṃ viśeṣayet

Translation

In a partition made while the father is alive, the father shall not show partiality by granting a special share to only one child.

Word by Word

• जीवत्-विभागे: in the partition made while the father is alive
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभज्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी; (समास) जीवत् + विभाग; 'जीवत्' = वर्तमान/जीवित-अवस्था में

• पिता: the father
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा

• न: not
• Type: Particle
• Root: न
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• एकम्: one (person/share)
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया; (कर्म)

• विशेषयेत्: should not favour / should not give preferential treatment
• Type: Verb
• Root: विशेषय् (विशेष + √इ/√अय् caus.)
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; causative sense: 'to make special/favour'

Entities Mentioned

• father
• children/heirs

More Details

FAQs

What constraint is placed on a father who partitions property while alive?

He must not single out one child for preferential treatment in the division.

Why is this a governance rule and not only a moral rule?

It sets an enforceable standard to reduce disputes, petitions, and retaliatory violence within households.