Vinayaadhikaarika Adhyaya 18 Sutra 9 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 9

Devanagari script

पाषण्डसंघद्रव्यमश्रोत्रियोपभोग्यं वा देवद्रव्यमाढ्यविधवाद्रव्यं वा गूढमनुप्रविश्य सार्थयानपात्राणि च मदनरसयोगेनातिसंधायापहरेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१८.०९ ॥

Transliteration

pāṣaṇḍasaṃghadravyam aśrotriyopabhogyaṃ vā devadravyam āḍhyavidhavādravyaṃ vā gūḍham anupraviśya sārthayānapātrāṇi ca madanarasayogena atisaṃdhāya apaharet

Translation

In secret, after infiltrating, he may seize assets belonging to heretical sect-collectives, property enjoyed by non-authorized beneficiaries, temple/ deity property, or the wealth of rich widows; and he may also deceitfully rob caravan conveyances and vessels by using intoxicating preparations.

Word by Word

पाषण्ड-संघ-द्रव्यम्property/wealth belonging to a heretical/heterodox sect’s congregation

अश्रोत्रिय-उपभोग्यम्fit to be enjoyed/used by non-śrotriyas (non-Vedic/unauthorized persons)

वाor

देव-द्रव्यम्property belonging to a deity/temple

आढ्य-विधवा-द्रव्यम्property of a wealthy widow

वाor

गूढम्hidden/secretly stored

अनुप्रविश्यhaving entered stealthily

सार्थ-यान-पात्राणिcontainers/vessels (cargo receptacles) of a caravan’s vehicles

चand

मदन-रस-योगेनby means of an admixture/application of madana-juice (an intoxicating/deluding drug)

अतिसंधायhaving deceived/overreached (by trickery)

अपहरेत्should carry off/steal away

Entities Mentioned

pāṣaṇḍa-saṃgha (heterodox collectives)

aśrotriya (unauthorized beneficiaries)

temple/deity assets (devadravya)

wealthy widows

caravans (sārtha)

FAQs

What administrative logic underlies listing these specific asset targets (sects, temples, widows, caravans)?

They represent identifiable, often weakly protected or politically marginal asset pools that can be accessed via infiltration and deception to rapidly generate funds in crisis—though ethically fraught.