Kantakashodhana Adhyaya 12 Sutra 8 - Arthashastra | French | Vedapath

Kautilya

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Sutra 8

Devanagari script

सप्तार्तवप्रजातां वरणादूर्ध्वमलभमानः प्रकृत्य प्राकामी स्यात् न च पितुरवहीनं दद्यात् ॥ कZ_०४.१२.०८ ॥

Transliteration

saptārtava-prajātāṃ varaṇād ūrdhvam alabhamānaḥ prakṛtyā prākāmī syāt; na ca pitur avahīnaṃ dadyāt

Translation

Si, après l’avoir choisie, un homme n’obtient pas une jeune fille qui a commencé à avoir ses règles et en a déjà eu sept, il est, selon la règle, réputé avoir droit (prākāmī). Et on ne doit pas l’obliger à donner quoi que ce soit qui diminue ce qui est dû au père (c.-à-d. aucune déduction/rétention indue au détriment du père).

Word by Word

सप्तseven

आर्तवmenstrual/seasonal (relating to menses/fertile period)

प्रजाताम्one who has borne (children); a woman who has produced offspring

वरणात्from the selection/acceptance (in marriage)

ऊर्ध्वम्thereafter; after that

अलभमानःnot obtaining; failing to get

प्रकृत्याby nature; naturally

प्राकामीoverly lustful; sexually uncontrolled

स्यात्would be; should be considered

नnot

चand

पितुःof the father

अवहीनम्not inferior; not less (than the father’s)

दद्यात्should give; should allot

Entities Mentioned

prospective groom

maiden/bride

father/guardian

FAQs

What administrative need does this rule serve?

It standardizes when a claim becomes legally cognizable after formal selection, reducing ambiguity and litigation in marriage disputes.

What does the clause about the father’s ‘avahīna’ indicate?

The state also tracks guardian/family economic interests and prevents opportunistic deductions or withholding that would undercut the father’s recognized stake.