Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 12

Devanagari script

कर्तुर्द्विगुणः सापसारश्चेत् ॥ कZ_०२.१४.१२ ॥

Transliteration

karturdviguṇaḥ sāpasāraścet

Translation

Pour l’auteur matériel, la peine est doublée ; et s’il y a fuite (absconding), (l’affaire est considérée comme aggravée).

Word by Word

• कर्तुः: of the doer/agent (of the work)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; कर्तृ-शब्दः (agent/doer)

• द्विगुणः: double (twofold)
• Type: Noun (used adjectivally)
• Root: गुण
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; ‘द्वि + गुण’ = twofold/double

• सापसारः: together with withdrawal/removal
• Type: Noun (used adjectivally)
• Root: अपसार
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; ‘स-’ = सहितः; ‘अपसार’ = withdrawal/retreat/removal; hence ‘with withdrawal/with removal’

• चेत्: if
• Type: Particle/Conjunction
• Root: चेत्
• Form: अव्ययम्; शर्तार्थक-निपातः (conditional ‘if’)

Entities Mentioned

• perpetrator (kartuḥ)
• enforcement authority

More Details

FAQs

How does Arthashastra treat the actual perpetrator versus the instigator?

It increases liability for the actual doer to double the base penalty.

Why mention absconding?

Flight signals culpability and obstructs administration, justifying escalation.