Sutra 15

Devanagari script

प्रकर्मण्यकुमार्याश्चतुष्पञ्चाशत्पणो दण्डः शुल्कव्ययकर्मणी च प्रतिदद्यात् ॥ कZ_०४.१२.१५ ॥

Transliteration

prakarmaṇyakumāryāś catuṣpañcāśatpaṇo daṇḍaḥ śulkavyayakarmaṇī ca pratidadyāt

Translation

For one who has sexual intercourse first with an unmarried girl (i.e., causes her initial defloration), the fine is fifty-four paṇas; and he shall also reimburse the bride-price (śulka) and the related expenses and rites (vyaya, karmaṇī).

Word by Word

• प्रकर्मणि: in the preliminary work / at the initial stage of the work
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकर्मन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (अधिकरणे)

• अकुमार्याः: of a non-maiden (i.e., not a virgin)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकुमारि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम् (सम्बन्धे)

• चतुःपञ्चाशत्: fifty-four
• Type: Numeral
• Root: चतुःपञ्चाशत्
• Form: संख्यावाचकं (अव्ययवत्/अविकारी), 54

• पणः: paṇa (a monetary unit)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (प्रमाणे/परिमाणे)

• दण्डः: the fine/penalty
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (विधेयः)

• शुल्कव्ययकर्मणी: the duty (toll) and the expenditure/expenses (incurred)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुल्कव्ययकर्मन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्विवचनम्, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (युगपद्-द्वन्द्वार्थे समाहार/इतरेतर-भावः; here as two items)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• प्रतिदद्यात्: should refund / should pay back
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (ददाति)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञा/विधानार्थे), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः प्रति-

Entities Mentioned

• unmarried girl (kumārī)
• offender
• state (imposing fine)
• guardians/family (implied recipients of śulka/expenses)

More Details

FAQs

What is the state’s dual remedy in 4.12.15?

A punitive fine to the state (54 paṇas) and restitution to cover the bride-price and associated marriage/ritual expenses.

What administrative intent is served by requiring repayment of śulka and expenses?

It internalizes the social/economic harm (loss of marriage prospects and incurred costs) onto the offender, stabilizing household arrangements and discouraging predatory behavior.