Arthashastra 3.13.38: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 38

Devanagari script

आत्माधिगतं स्वामिकर्माविरुद्धं लभेत पित्र्यं च दायम् ॥ कZ_०३.१३.१४ ॥

Transliteration

ātmādhigataṃ svāmikarmāviruddhaṃ labheta pitryaṃ ca dāyam

Translation

Il peut conserver/obtenir ce qu’il a acquis par son propre effort, pour autant que cela ne contredise pas le travail ou les droits du maître ; et il recevra aussi sa part d’héritage paternel.

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Word by Word

• आत्म-अधिगतं: self-acquired (property/wealth)
• Type: Participle (Verbal adjective)
• Root: अधि√गम्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘अधिगत’ = प्राप्त/उपार्जित; ‘आत्म’ = स्वयम् (कर्ता/स्वामि) सम्बन्धेन

• स्वामि-कर्म-अविरुद्धं: not contrary to the master’s work/duty
• Type: Adjective (compound)
• Root: √रुध् (निरोधे) / विरुद्ध (ppp)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘स्वामिकर्म’ = स्वामिनः कर्म/कार्य; ‘अविरुद्ध’ = न विरुद्ध (नञ्-तत्पुरुष)

• लभेत: should obtain / may receive
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ्
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (विधि/आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘he should obtain/receive’

• पित्र्यं: paternal/ancestral
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ (पित्र्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; ‘पित्र्य’ = पितृसम्बन्धि/पैतृक

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• दायं: inheritance / hereditary share
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘दाय’ = उत्तराधिकार/विभाग्यधन

Entities Mentioned

• svāmin (master/employer)

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FAQs

How does this sutra balance employer control with individual rights?

It allows the pledged person to keep self-acquired gains and inherit, but carves out the employer’s legitimate operational claim—an early rule separating personal property from service obligations.