Vyasanadhikarana Adhyaya 3 Sutra 59 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

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Sutra 59

Devanagari script

स्त्रीव्यसने भवत्यपत्योत्पत्तिरात्मरक्षणं चान्तर्दारेषु विपर्ययो वा बाह्येषु अगम्येषु सर्वोच्छित्तिः ॥ कZ_०८.३.५९ ॥

Transliteration

strīvyasane bhavaty apatyotpattir ātmarakṣaṇaṃ cāntardāreṣu viparyayo vā bāhyeṣu agamyeṣu sarvocchittiḥ

Translation

In addiction to women, there may be offspring and even self-protection when confined to one’s own women; but if it turns perverse within the inner apartments, or if it extends to forbidden women outside, it leads to total ruin.

Word by Word

स्त्रीव्यसनेin the vice/addiction to women

भवतिthere occurs / happens

अपत्योत्पत्तिःthe production of offspring

आत्मरक्षणम्self-protection

चand

अन्तर्दारेषुamong the inner wives (women of the inner apartments)

विपर्ययःthe opposite (result)

वाor

बाह्येषुamong external (women/relations)

अगम्येषुamong those who are not to be approached (forbidden)

सर्वोच्छित्तिःtotal destruction / complete ruin

Entities Mentioned

inner apartments (antaḥdāra)

forbidden women (agamya)

FAQs

Why does the text distinguish ‘inner’ vs ‘outside/forbidden’ relations?

Relations within a regulated household may be contained and even serve dynastic continuity, while forbidden external relations trigger blackmail, factional conflict, legal violation, and legitimacy crises.

What is the governance meaning of ‘sarvocchitti’ here?

Not merely personal downfall—Kauṭilya signals systemic collapse: loss of authority, security breaches, and political destruction.