Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 12

Devanagari script

आहर्तुः पूर्वः साहसदण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.५.१२ ॥

Transliteration

āhartuḥ pūrvaḥ sāhasa-daṇḍaḥ.

Translation

આહર્તા (લાવનાર/પુરવઠાકર્તા) માટે પ્રથમ દંડ ‘સાહસ-દંડ’ છે.

Word by Word

• आहर्तुः: of the collector (revenue officer)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहर्तृ
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग (कर्तृवाचक-तृच् प्रत्ययान्तः)

• पूर्वः: the earlier/first (i.e., the lesser of the two)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणम्

• साहसदण्डः: the penalty (fine) for violence/forcible wrongdoing
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; समासः: साहसस्य दण्डः

Entities Mentioned

• āhartṛ (supplier/porter/producer bringing goods)

More Details

FAQs

What is the policy intent of specifying a 'first' penalty?

It operationalizes escalation: the state signals predictable enforcement while reserving harsher measures for repetition or aggravation.