Arthashastra — Kantakashodhana, Sutra 19

Devanagari script

पतिगुरुप्रजाघातिकामग्निविषदां संधिच्छेदिकां वा गोभिः पाटयेत् ॥ कZ_०४.११.१९ ॥

Transliteration

patiguruprajāghātikām agniviṣadāṃ saṃdhicchedikāṃ vā gobhiḥ pāṭayet

Translation

A woman who kills her husband, teacher, or a member of the populace; or who commits arson or poisoning; or who breaks a treaty/compact—should be torn apart by cattle.

Word by Word

• पति-गुरु-प्रजा-घाति-काम-अग्नि-विष-दानाम्: of those who kill (their) husband, teacher, or the people, and of those who give (means of) lust, fire, poison
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: पति/गुरु/प्रजा/घातिन्/काम/अग्नि/विष/द
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम्; समासपदम्; ‘घाति’ = घातिन्-शब्दः (हत्या-कर्ता/घातकः) समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन

• सन्धि-च्छेदिकाम्: a woman who breaks alliances/relations (a ‘breaker of concord’)
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: छिद्
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; स्त्रीलिङ्गम्; ‘च्छेदिका’ (कर्तृवाचक-ण्वुल्/णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त भावः) = छेदयित्री; ‘सन्धि’ उपपदम्

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्

• गोभिः: by cows (using cattle)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो
• Form: तृतीया-बहुवचनम्; स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगः (गो-शब्दः)

• पाटयेत्: he should have (her/them) torn/attacked (made to be ripped) by cattle
• Type: Verb
• Root: पट्/पट् (पाटयति)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-प्रयोगः (आज्ञार्थ/विध्यर्थ); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचनम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (कारयति) — ‘to cause to be torn/struck’

Entities Mentioned

• husband
• guru/teacher
• subjects (prajā)
• treaty/compact (saṃdhi)

More Details

FAQs

Why is treaty-breaking listed alongside violent crimes?

Because saṃdhi (political compact) is treated as a core instrument of state survival; violating it is framed as a security offense comparable to lethal harm.