Sutra 17

Devanagari script

उदकधारणं सेतुं भिन्दतस्तत्रैवाप्सु निमज्जनमनुदकमुत्तमः साहसदण्डः भग्नोत्सृष्टकं मध्यमः ॥ कZ_०४.११.१७ ॥

Transliteration

udakadhāraṇaṃ setuṃ bhindatas tatraiva apsu nimajjanam anudakam uttamaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ bhagnotsṛṣṭakaṃ madhyamaḥ

Translation

For one who breaks a water-retaining embankment/dam, drowning on the spot is prescribed; if it results in the loss of water, the highest sāhasa-penalty applies; if it is broken but water is not lost (or it is released/let off), the middle sāhasa-penalty applies.

Word by Word

• उदकधारणम्: water-retaining (structure/arrangement); impounding of water
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृ (धारण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; 'उदकस्य धारणम्' (जल-रोध/धारण)

• सेतुम्: a dam/embankment (causeway)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया

• भिन्दतः: of (a person) breaking/breaching
• Type: Verb (participle)
• Root: भिद्
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, षष्ठी (gen. sg.) — 'of one who breaks/splits'

• तत्र: there; in that place
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक)

• एव: indeed; just; precisely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: अव्यय (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• अप्सु: in the waters
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (आपः)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोग), सप्तमी बहुवचन

• निमज्जनम्: submerging; drowning
• Type: Noun
• Root: मज्ज् (निमज्जन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; क्रियानाम (act-noun)

• अनुदकम्: without water; waterless
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: अनुदक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; 'उदकं न (यत्र)' / 'without water'

• उत्तमः: the highest (grade)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; (दण्ड-भेदेषु) सर्वोच्च

• साहसदण्डः: the sāhasa-penalty (graded punishment/fine for violent/mischievous acts)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (साहस)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; 'साहसस्य दण्डः'

• भग्नोत्सृष्टकम्: (when it is) broken or let loose/opened (released)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: उत्सृष्टक (भग्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; 'भग्नं च उत्सृष्टकं च' (दो अवस्थाएँ)

• मध्यमः: the middle (grade)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; (दण्ड-भेदेषु) मध्यम-श्रेणी

Entities Mentioned

• setu (dam/embankment)
• waterworks/irrigation system

More Details

FAQs

What does this sutra show about Kautilya’s view of infrastructure?

Water-control works are treated as critical state assets; sabotage is punished severely and graded by measurable harm (loss of water vs. lesser damage).