Sutra 55

Devanagari script

स्वकरणाभावे पञ्चशतो दण्डः प्रच्छन्नादाने सहस्रम् ॥ कZ_०४.१.५५ ॥

Transliteration

svakaraṇābhāve pañcaśato daṇḍaḥ pracchannādāne sahasram

Translation

If he lacks his own means/implements (i.e., cannot substantiate recovery by his own agency), the fine is five hundred; if he takes it secretly, the fine is one thousand.

Word by Word

• स्वकरणाभावे: in the absence of the person’s own hand/authorization (i.e., without the owner’s own attestation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अभाव-शब्दः), सप्तमी एकवचनम्; समासः: स्वकरणस्य अभावे (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष), समस्तपदे सप्तमी

• पञ्चशतः: five hundred
• Type: Numeral (Noun-like)
• Root: पञ्चशत
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम् (दण्डः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• दण्डः: the fine/penalty
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• प्रच्छन्नादाने: in the case of concealed taking/secret appropriation
• Type: Noun (action-noun)
• Root: आदान
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी एकवचनम्; समासः: प्रच्छन्नम् आदानम् (गुप्त-ग्रहणम्)

• सहस्रम्: one thousand (as fine)
• Type: Numeral (Noun-like)
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; अत्र दण्डराशिवाचकं (दण्डः इति अध्याहार्यः)

Entities Mentioned

• Claimant/discoverer (implicit)
• King/State

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative intent behind ‘lack of own implements’?

It functions as an evidentiary proxy: inability to show independent recovery raises suspicion of collusion or illicit appropriation, triggering sanction.