Sutra 12
Devanagari script
वर्णोत्तमानां गुरूणां च हस्तपादलङ्घने राजयानवाहनाद्यारोहणे चैकहस्तपादवधः सप्तशतो वा दण्डः ॥ कZ_०४.१०.१२ ॥
Transliteration
varṇottamānāṃ gurūṇāṃ ca hastapādalaṅghane rājayānavāhanādyārohaṇe caikahastapādavadhaḥ saptaśato vā daṇḍaḥ
Translation
For one who violates (i.e., assaults/strikes) the hands or feet of persons of higher social rank or of teachers, and for one who mounts the king’s vehicles/animals and the like without authorization, the penalty is mutilation of one hand or one foot, or a fine of 700 (paṇas).
Word by Word
वर्णोत्तमानाम्of the highest varṇas (upper social orders)
वर्णोत्तमानाम्:
TypeNoun (Genitive plural)
Rootवर्ण + उत्तम
Formपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी बहुवचन; वर्णोत्तम = ‘श्रेष्ठवर्ण’ (उत्तमः वर्णः)
गुरूणाम्of teachers/elders
गुरूणाम्:
TypeNoun (Genitive plural)
Rootगुरु
Formपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी बहुवचन
चand
च:
TypeParticle
Rootच
Formसमुच्चयार्थक अव्यय
हस्तपादलङ्घनेin the offence of stepping over (someone’s) hands or feet
हस्तपादलङ्घने:
TypeNoun (Locative singular)
Rootहस्त + पाद + लङ्घन
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; अधिकरणे (in the case of…)
राजयानवाहनादि(in relation to) royal vehicles/conveyances and the like
राजयानवाहनादि:
TypeNoun (Locative singular; in compound with following)
Rootराज + यान + वाहन + आदि
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; (समासपद) ‘राजयानवाहनादि-’ = royal conveyances etc.; next word ‘आरोहणे’ governs locative sense
आरोहणेin mounting/boarding (them)
आरोहणे:
TypeVerbal noun (Locative singular)
Rootआ + रुह् (रुहँ)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; कृदन्त-भाववाचक (आरोहण = mounting/boarding)
चand
च:
TypeParticle
Rootच
Formसमुच्चयार्थक अव्यय
एकहस्तपादवधःamputation of one hand or one foot
एकहस्तपादवधः:
TypeNoun (Nominative singular)
Rootएक + हस्त + पाद + वध
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; दण्डविधानरूपेण विधेय (the prescribed punishment)
सप्तशतःseven hundred (as a fine amount)
सप्तशतः:
TypeNumeral (Nominative singular)
Rootसप्त + शत
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; विकल्पदण्डे (as alternative)
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)
दण्डःpunishment/penalty (fine)
दण्डः:
TypeNoun (Nominative singular)
Rootदण्ड
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; दण्डवाचक
Entities Mentioned
H
higher-status persons (varṇottama)T
teachers (guru)K
king (rājan)R
royal vehicles/animals (rājayāna/vāhana)FAQs
It protects symbols and instruments of sovereignty (state assets) and deters casual encroachment on royal prerogatives, using either corporal punishment or a substantial fine.