Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 15

Devanagari script

अकालेऽतीर्थे च तरतः पूर्वः साहसदण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.२८.१५ ॥

Transliteration

akāle'tīrthe ca tarataḥ pūrvaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ

Translation

અયોગ્ય સમયે અથવા અતીર્થે (અનધિકૃત સ્થળે) પાર ઉતરનાર પર સાહસ (દુસ્સાહસ/બળપ્રયોગ) નો પ્રથમ (ન્યૂનતમ) દંડ લાદવો.

Word by Word

• अकाले: at an improper time / out of season
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी; नञ्-पूर्वक (अ-काल)

• अतीर्थे: at a non-ford / at an unauthorized crossing place
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी; नञ्-पूर्वक (अ-तीर्थ)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• तरतः: (of) two persons crossing
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (तरणे)
• Form: लट्; परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमा; द्विवचन; वर्तमानकाल; धातु: तॄ

• पूर्वः: the first / the lowest (grade)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा; विशेषण (साहसदण्डस्य)

• साहसदण्डः: the penalty for violence/forcible wrongdoing (sāhasa-penalty)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा; समास: साहसस्य दण्डः

Entities Mentioned

• unauthorized crossers
• penal authority

More Details

FAQs

Why treat unauthorized crossing as ‘sāhasa’ (rash/forcible offense)?

Because it bypasses state control points, creating security and revenue risks; the law frames it as a public-order violation, not a private choice.

What does ‘first penalty’ imply?

A graded sanction system—allowing proportional punishment depending on severity or repetition.