Sutra 18

Devanagari script

धर्मस्थः प्रदेष्टा वा हैरण्यदण्डमदण्ड्ये क्षिपति क्षेपद्विगुणमस्मै दण्डं कुर्यात् हीनातिरिक्ताष्टगुणं वा ॥ कZ_०४.९.१८ ॥

Transliteration

dharmasthaḥ pradeṣṭā vā hairaṇyadaṇḍamadaṇḍye kṣipati kṣepadviguṇamasmai daṇḍaṃ kuryāt hīnātiriktāṣṭaguṇaṃ vā

Translation

If a judge or an executive officer (pradeṣṭā) imposes a monetary fine on one who is not liable to be fined, he shall be punished with a fine double the amount wrongfully imposed; alternatively, where the amount is deficient or excessive, an eightfold penalty (relative to the shortfall/excess) shall be applied.

Word by Word

धर्मस्थःthe judge / officer presiding over justice

प्रदेष्टाthe pradeṣṭṛ (an appointed officer)

वाor

हैरण्यदण्डम्a monetary fine

अदण्ड्येin the case of one who is not punishable / not liable to a fine

क्षिपतिimposes / throws (a fine)

क्षेपद्विगुणम्double the amount of the (wrongful) imposition

अस्मैto him (i.e., to that officer)

दण्डम्a penalty

कुर्यात्should impose / should make (i.e., should levy)

हीनातिरिक्ताष्टगुणम्(a penalty) eightfold, for (wrongly) reducing or increasing (the due amount)

वाor

Entities Mentioned

dharmastha

pradeṣṭā

non-liable citizen

FAQs

What is the deterrence logic in ‘double’ or ‘eightfold’ penalties for officials?

To make abuse of fining power unprofitable and risk-dominant, preventing fines from becoming a revenue-by-coercion tool.