Sutra 2

Devanagari script

पञ्चविंशतिपणावरेषु कुक्कुटनकुलमार्जारश्वसूकरस्तेयेषु हिंसायां वा चतुष्पञ्चाशत्पणो दण्डः नासाग्रच्छेदनं वा चण्डालारण्यचराणामर्धदण्डाः ॥ कZ_०४.१०.०२ ॥

Transliteration

pañcaviṃśatipaṇāvareṣu kukkuṭanakulamārjāraśvasūkarasteyeṣu hiṃsāyāṃ vā catuṣpañcāśatpaṇo daṇḍaḥ nāsāgracchedanaṃ vā caṇḍālāraṇyacarāṇām ardha-daṇḍāḥ

Translation

For theft or injury involving fowl, mongoose, cat, horse, or pig, when the value is under twenty‑five paṇas, the penalty is fifty‑four paṇas; alternatively, cutting off the tip of the nose may be imposed. For caṇḍālas and forest-dwellers, the penalty is half.

Word by Word

पञ्चविंशतिपणावरेषुin cases where (the value) is below twenty-five paṇas

कुक्कुटof a cock/hen (fowl)

नकुलof a mongoose

मार्जारof a cat

श्वof a dog

सूकरof a pig/boar

स्तेयेषुin cases of theft

हिंसायाम्in (cases of) injury/violence

वाor

चand

चतुष्पञ्चाशत्पणः(a fine of) fifty-four paṇas

दण्डःthe penalty/fine

नासाग्रच्छेदनम्cutting off the tip of the nose

वाor

चण्डालof caṇḍālas (outcaste community)

अरण्यचराणाम्of forest-dwellers

अर्धदण्डाः(they are liable to) half the penalty

Entities Mentioned

kukkuṭa (fowl)

nakula (mongoose)

mārjāra (cat)

aśva (horse)

sūkara (pig)

caṇḍāla

araṇyacara (forest-dweller)

FAQs

What administrative principle is visible in this rule on animal theft?

Kauṭilya uses valuation thresholds and standardized tariff fines, treating theft and injury under the same enforcement schedule to simplify adjudication and deter violence during theft.

Why might the text offer a choice between a fine and nose-tip cutting?

It provides the state a scalable deterrent: monetary recovery where feasible, and a visible stigma-based punishment where fines may not be collectible or where exemplary deterrence is desired.