Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 26

Devanagari script

पांसुन्यासे रथ्यायामष्टभागो दण्डः पङ्कोदकसम्निरोधे पादः ॥ कZ_०२.३६.२६ ॥

Transliteration

pāṃsunyāse rathyāyām aṣṭabhāgo daṇḍaḥ paṅkodakasamnirodhe pādaḥ

Translation

Por arrojar polvo/basura en la calle, la multa es de 1/8 (de una unidad estándar de pena); por obstruir el flujo de lodo y agua, la multa es de 1/4.

Word by Word

• पांसु-न्यासे: in the depositing/dumping of dust/earth
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास
• Form: सप्तमी एकवचनम् (न्यास-शब्दः); पांसोः (पांसु) षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः; अर्थे—‘पांसोः न्यासे’ इति अधिकरणे

• रथ्यायाम्: on the street/public road
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ्या
• Form: सप्तमी एकवचनम्; स्त्रीलिङ्गम्; अधिकरणम् (स्थानवाचक)

• अष्ट-भागः: one-eighth (as a share/portion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गम्; ‘अष्ट’ (संख्या-विशेषण) + ‘भाग’ (अंश)

• दण्डः: a fine/penalty
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गम्; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• पङ्क-उदक-सम्निरोधे: in obstructing (the flow/clearance of) mud and water
• Type: Noun (action noun)
• Root: सम्-नि-रुध्
• Form: सप्तमी एकवचनम्; ‘सम्निरोध’ (निरोध/अवरोध) शब्दः; पङ्क + उदक (द्वन्द्व-समाहारः) इव पूर्वपदद्वयम्, ततः तयोः सम्निरोधः इति तत्पुरुषः; अधिकरणम्

• पादः: one quarter (a fourth share)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गम्; दण्ड-परिमाण-वाचकः (¼)

Entities Mentioned

• street/public road
• offenders (dumpers/blockers)
• municipal enforcement

More Details

FAQs

Why are fines graded between dumping dust and blocking mud/water?

Because blocking water/drainage increases disease risk and infrastructure damage; the state prices higher the behavior with greater public harm.

What does this indicate about Arthashastra’s urban administration?

It treats cleanliness and drainage as enforceable public goods, maintained through routine penalties rather than ad hoc moral exhortation.