Sutra 8

Devanagari script

चातुर्वर्ण्यपुत्राणां ब्राह्मणीपुत्रश्चतुरोऽंशान् हरेत्क्षत्रियापुत्रस्त्रीनंशान्वैश्यापुत्रो द्वावंशौ एकं शूद्रापुत्रः ॥ कZ_०३.६.१७ ॥

Transliteration

cāturvarṇyaputrāṇāṃ brāhmaṇīputraścaturo'ṃśān haretkṣatriyāputrastrīnaṃśānvaiśyāputro dvāvaṃśau ekaṃ śūdrāputraḥ

Translation

Among sons (classified) by the four varṇas: the brāhmaṇī’s son shall take four parts; the kṣatriyā’s son three parts; the vaiśyā’s son two parts; the śūdrā’s son one part.

Word by Word

• चातुर्वर्ण्य: of the four-varṇa system
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: चातुर्वर्ण्य (from वर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन (genitive singular) qualifying पुत्राणाम; ‘of the four-varṇa order’

• पुत्राणाम्: of (the) sons
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• ब्राह्मणी: of a Brahmin woman
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मणी
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन (genitive singular) in compound with पुत्रः

• पुत्रः: the son
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (nominative singular); subject

• चतुरः: four
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: चतुर्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचन (accusative plural) agreeing with अंशान्

• अंशान्: shares/portions
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचन (accusative plural); object of हरेत्

• हरेत्: should take/should receive
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should take/receive’

• क्षत्रिया: of a Kshatriya woman
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिया
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन (genitive singular) in compound with पुत्रः

• पुत्रः: the son
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (nominative singular); subject (elliptic ‘hare t’)

• त्रीन्: three
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचन (accusative plural) agreeing with अंशान् (understood)

• अंशान्: shares/portions
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचन (accusative plural); object (understood with हरेत्)

• वैश्या: of a Vaishya woman
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्या
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन (genitive singular) in compound with पुत्रः

• पुत्रः: the son
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (nominative singular); subject

• द्वौ: two
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-द्विवचन (accusative dual) agreeing with अंशौ

• अंशौ: two shares/portions
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-द्विवचन (accusative dual); object (understood with हरेत्)

• एकम्: one
• Type: Numeral/Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (accusative singular) used adverbially/elliptically with अंशम् (understood)

• शूद्रा: of a Shudra woman
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्रा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन (genitive singular) in compound with पुत्रः

• पुत्रः: the son
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (nominative singular); subject

Entities Mentioned

• brāhmaṇī-putra
• kṣatriyā-putra
• vaiśyā-putra
• śūdrā-putra

More Details

FAQs

How does this function administratively?

It gives officials a fixed ratio (4:3:2:1) to compute shares quickly, reducing scope for bargaining and dispute.

What is the political-administrative intent of a fixed ratio?

Predictability: standard ratios lower adjudication costs and make outcomes legible and enforceable across the realm.