Sutra 8

Devanagari script

शपथातिक्रमे महतां तपस्विनां मुख्यानां वा प्रातिभाव्यबन्धः प्रतिभूः ॥ कZ_०७.१७.०८ ॥

Transliteration

śapathātikrame mahatāṃ tapasvināṃ mukhyānāṃ vā prātibhāvyabandhaḥ pratibhūḥ

Translation

In case of violation of an oath, a surety-bond should be taken—namely, a guarantor (pratibhū) who is a great person, an ascetic of standing, or a principal (leading) man.

Word by Word

• शपथातिक्रमे: in the case of violation of an oath
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति-क्रम्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी; (शपथस्य अतिक्रमः) ‘शपथातिक्रम’ इति समासपदम्

• महताम्: of great (eminent) persons
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; षष्ठी; ‘महत्’ (महान्) विशेषणम्

• तपस्विनाम्: of ascetics
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; षष्ठी

• मुख्यानाम्: of chief (leading) persons
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; षष्ठी; ‘मुख्य’ विशेषणम्

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

• प्रातिभाव्यबन्धः: the bond (liability) of suretyship
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्ध
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा; (प्रातिभाव्यस्य बन्धः) ‘प्रातिभाव्य-बन्ध’ इति समासः

• प्रतिभूः: the surety/guarantor
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिभू
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा; ‘प्रतिभू’ (surety/guarantor)

Entities Mentioned

• guarantor (pratibhū)
• eminent persons
• ascetics
• leading notables

More Details

FAQs

What is the policy logic of using eminent/ascetic/notable guarantors?

Their reputational capital and social authority raise the cost of breach; they can exert pressure on the violator and provide a credible enforcement channel beyond mere words.