Sutra 61
Devanagari script
कामं देशजातिगोत्रचरणमैथुनावहासेन नर्मयेयुः ॥ कZ_०४.१.६१ ॥
Transliteration
kāmaṃ deśajātigotracaraṇamaithunāvahāsena narmayeyuḥ
Translation
At most, they may engage in light joking only by humorous references to region, community, lineage, conduct, or sexual matters—(but not beyond that into abuse/harassment).
Word by Word
कामम्even if; even though; if one wishes
कामम्:
TypeAvyaya
Rootकाम
Formअव्यय; अर्थे ‘कामम्’ = ‘यद्यपि/अपि/इच्छया वा’ (concessive/permission sense)
देशcountry; region
देश:
TypeNoun
Rootदेश
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)
जातिcaste; community; birth-group
जाति:
TypeNoun
Rootजाति
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)
गोत्रclan; lineage
गोत्र:
TypeNoun
Rootगोत्र
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)
चरणconduct; practice; (also: foot) here: behavior/way of life
चरण:
TypeNoun
Rootचरण
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)
मैथुनsexual intercourse; sexual act
मैथुन:
TypeNoun
Rootमैथुन
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)
अवहासेनby ridicule; with mockery
अवहासेन:
TypeNoun
Rootअवहास
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन; करण/हेतु (instrumental: ‘by/with mockery’)
नnot
न:
TypeParticle
Rootन
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय
नर्मयेयुःthey should not jest; they should not make (it) a joke / indulge in joking
नर्मयेयुः:
TypeVerb
Rootनर्मय् (नर्म + णिच्)
Formलिङ् (विधिलिङ्); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; धातु: नर्मयति (causative/denominative) ‘to make into a joke, to jest, to speak playfully/obscenely’
Entities Mentioned
P
performers/jesters (implied)A
audience/public (implied)FAQs
Kautilya permits controlled entertainment but seeks to prevent ridicule from escalating into inter-group hostility, defamation, or coercive harassment.