Sutra 3

Devanagari script

परगृहाभिगमने दिवा पूर्वः साहसदण्डः रात्रौ मध्यमः ॥ कZ_०४.१३.०३ ॥

Transliteration

paragṛhābhigamane divā pūrvaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ rātrau madhyamaḥ

Translation

For unlawful approach/entry into another’s house: by day, impose the first (lowest) sāhasa fine; by night, the middle (higher) sāhasa fine.

Word by Word

• परगृहाभिगमने: in the act of entering another’s house (trespass)
• Type: Noun (action noun)
• Root: अभि√गम् (गम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी; कृदन्त-भाववाचक (अभिगमन)

• दिवा: by day / in daytime
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• पूर्वः: the first (i.e., lowest grade)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; (दण्ड-प्रकार-विशेषणम्)

• साहसदण्डः: the penalty prescribed for ‘sāhasa’ offences (a sāhasa-fine)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा

• रात्रौ: at night / in the night
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (वैकल्पिक रूप: रात्र्याम्)

• मध्यमः: the middle (i.e., medium grade)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: मध्यम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; (दण्ड-प्रकार-विशेषणम्)

Entities Mentioned

• intruder
• householder

More Details

FAQs

Why is night-time intrusion punished more severely?

Night increases fear, concealment, and risk of violence; the law treats it as an aggravating circumstance to deter covert crime.

What is the policy logic of graded sāhasa fines?

To calibrate punishment to risk and culpability, enabling consistent enforcement and deterrence without over-penalizing lesser acts.