Sutra 22

Devanagari script

स्वयं प्रकृता राजदास्यं गच्छेत् ॥ कZ_०४.१२.२२ ॥

Transliteration

svayaṃ prakṛtā rājadāsyaṃ gacchet

Translation

If she herself initiates it, she shall be sent into royal servitude.

Word by Word

• स्वयम्: of his own accord; personally; voluntarily
• Type: Avyaya
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (स्वतः/स्वेच्छया इत्यर्थे)

• प्रकृता: a constituent/subject (of the realm)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: प्रकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; स्त्रीलिङ्गम् (विशेष्य-निहितः: ‘प्रकृतिः’ = प्रजा/अमात्यादि); कर्तृपदम्

• राजदास्यम्: servitude to the king; becoming the king’s slave/servant
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + दास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; कर्मपदम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राज्ञः दास्यम्)

• गच्छेत्: should go; should enter (into)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; लोट्-अर्थे विधिः/विधानम्

Entities Mentioned

• woman (initiator)
• king/state

More Details

FAQs

What type of penalty is imposed in 4.12.22?

A status/labor penalty—assignment to royal servitude—rather than only a monetary fine.

What governance function does servitude serve compared to fines?

It provides a strong deterrent and converts punishment into state-controlled labor, reflecting a coercive administrative toolkit.