Sutra 37

Devanagari script

पलहीने हीनद्विगुणो दण्डः ॥ कZ_०४.१.३७ ॥

Transliteration

palahīne hīnadviguṇo daṇḍaḥ

Translation

For a deficit of one pala (short-weight by a pala), the fine is double the amount of the deficiency (twice the shortfall).

Word by Word

• पलहीने: in the case of (an article) lacking पल (proper weight/standard measure)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: पलहीन
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (अधिकरणे); विशेषणम्

• हीनद्विगुणः: double (the penalty) of the deficiency / twice the shortfall
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: हीन-द्विगुण
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (दण्डः इति विशेष्यस्य)

• दण्डः: the penalty/fine
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; पुल्लिङ्गः; कर्तृ/विधेय-प्रयोगः

Entities Mentioned

• pala (weight unit)

More Details

FAQs

What enforcement logic is reflected in 'double the deficiency'?

It is a proportional deterrent: the offender loses more than the gain from cheating, making systematic short-weighting economically irrational.