Sutra 19

Devanagari script

वैदेहकानां वा सम्भूय पण्यमवरुन्धतामनर्घेण विक्रीणतां वा सहस्रं दण्डः ॥ कZ_०४.२.१९ ॥

Transliteration

vaidehakānāṃ vā sambhūya paṇyam avarundhatām anargheṇa vikrīṇatāṃ vā sahasraṃ daṇḍaḥ

Translation

Likewise, for vaidehakas who act in concert to corner/withhold goods, or who sell at a non-remunerative (unfair) price, the penalty is 1,000 paṇas.

Word by Word

• वैदेहकानाम्: of the Vaidehakas (a class of traders/merchants)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदेहक
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम् (जनपद/व्यक्ति-समूहवाचक)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्

• सम्भूय: having assembled / acting in concert
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-भू
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund), ‘सम्’ उपसर्गः

• पण्यम्: merchandise / goods for sale
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्य
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम्

• अवरुन्धताम्: (if they) obstruct/seize (the goods)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-रुध्
• Form: लोट्, तृतीय-पुरुष, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्; ‘अव’ उपसर्गः

• अनर्घेण: at an unfairly low price / by undervaluing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनर्घ
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (विशेषणरूपेण)

• विक्रीणताम्: (if they) sell
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-क्री
• Form: लोट्, तृतीय-पुरुष, बहुवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्; ‘वि’ उपसर्गः

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्

• सहस्रम्: one thousand (as the amount)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (दण्ड-परिमाणवाचक)

• दण्डः: the penalty/fine
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्

Entities Mentioned

• vaidehakas (trader group)
• merchants
• state market authority

More Details

FAQs

What are the two prohibited behaviors in 4.2.19?

Coordinated hoarding/cornering of goods and coordinated selling at an improper (market-distorting) price.

Why would selling 'anargheṇa' be punishable?

Because predatory or manipulated pricing can destabilize markets, eliminate competitors, or enable later profiteering; the state targets the distortion, not just high prices.