Sutra 47

Devanagari script

द्यूतस्त्रीव्यसनयोः कैतवव्यसनमिति कौणपदन्तः ॥ कZ_०८.३.४७ ॥

Transliteration

dyūta-strī-vyasanayoḥ kaitava-vyasanam iti kauṇapadantaḥ

Translation

Between the vices of gambling and women, Kauṇapadanta holds that gambling is the vice of cheating/knavery (and is the worse).

Word by Word

• द्यूत: gambling; play with dice
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यूत
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समाहार/विषय-निर्देश)

• स्त्री: woman; (in context) indulgence in women
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (विषय-निर्देश)

• व्यसनयोः: of the two vices/addictions
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; यहाँ षष्ठी-द्विवचन (द्यूत-स्त्री-व्यसनयोः = ‘गambling and women’ as vices)

• कैतव: cheating; fraud; trickery
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: कैतव
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रायः), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास-पूर्वपद (कैतवव्यसनम्)

• व्यसनम्: vice; addiction; harmful habit
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; वाक्ये विधेय (इति-पूर्वं)

• इति: thus; so (quoting/defining)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/परिभाषा-समाप्ति सूचक

• कौणपदन्तः: (according to) Kauṇapadanta
• Type: Noun (proper name/authorial attribution)
• Root: कौणपदन्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/मत-निर्देश (आचार्य-मत)

Entities Mentioned

• Kauṇapadanta
• gamblers
• king (implied)

More Details

FAQs

What is the policy purpose of citing Kauṇapadanta?

Kauṭilya preserves competing expert views to justify a reasoned administrative ranking of risks and appropriate controls.

Why is gambling framed as ‘kaitava’ (cheating)?

Because it institutionalizes deceit, disputes, and predation—behaviors that corrode trust and legal order beyond private immorality.