Sutra 27

Devanagari script

जातिविशिष्टामकामामपत्यवतीं निष्क्रयेण दद्यात् ॥ कZ_०४.१२.३७ ॥

Transliteration

jātiviśiṣṭām akāmām apatyavatīṃ niṣkrayeṇa dadyāt

Translation

If she is of a distinguished social group, unwilling, or already has children, he should hand her over upon receiving an appropriate redemption/compensation (niṣkraya).

Word by Word

• जाति-विशिष्टाम्: a woman of a specified caste/class
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाति + विशिष्ट (√शिष्/√शास्-निष्पन्न ‘विशिष्ट’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘स्त्रीम्’ (कामाम्/अपत्यवतीम्) विशेषयति

• कामाम्: desirous / sexually mature (lit. ‘having desire’)
• Type: Noun (used adjectivally)
• Root: काम
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘स्त्रीम्’ विशेषयति

• अपत्यवतीम्: having offspring / capable of bearing children
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपत्य + वत् (मतुप्-प्रत्ययार्थ ‘वती’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘स्त्रीम्’ विशेषयति

• निष्क्रयेण: by paying the redemption price (ransom/release payment)
• Type: Noun (instrumental of means)
• Root: निष्क्रय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (प्रायः), एकवचन, तृतीया; साधन/हेतु-करणे

• दद्यात्: should give / should hand over
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (दान)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘he should give/hand over’

Entities Mentioned

• rescuer
• woman (akāmā/aptyavatī)

More Details

FAQs

What circumstances require restoration rather than cohabitation?

If the woman is unwilling, already has children, or is of distinguished status, the rescuer must restore her via a redemption/compensation arrangement.

What is the policy logic behind ‘niṣkraya’?

It formalizes restitution and discourages exploitation of vulnerable persons during crises by making restoration a regulated transaction.