Sutra 2

Devanagari script

मृतायां वधः ॥ कZ_०४.१२.०२ ॥

Transliteration

mṛtāyāṃ vadhaḥ

Translation

If she dies, (the offender is punished with) death.

Word by Word

• मृतायाम्: in the case of a dead (woman/person); when (she) is dead
• Type: Noun (adjectival participle used substantively)
• Root: मृ (मरणे) → मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी; कृदन्त-रूप: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘मृत’ + स्त्री-सप्तमी ‘-आयाम्’; अर्थे: ‘मृता (स्त्री)’ = मृत स्त्री/मृत व्यक्ति (स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रयोग)

• वधः: killing; (as a penalty) death punishment
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (हिंसने) / √वध् (to slay)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा; भाव/क्रिया-वाचक संज्ञा: ‘killing, slaying’

Entities Mentioned

• victim (female)
• offender

More Details

FAQs

What governance principle is reflected by ‘if death occurs, then death’?

Outcome-based escalation: the state ties punishment severity to the harm produced, prioritizing deterrence where offenses cause fatal consequences.