Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 20

Devanagari script

तमेषां भक्तवेतनादाददीत ॥ कZ_०२.३२.२० ॥

Transliteration

tameṣāṃ bhaktavetanādādadīta

Translation

वह (राशि/दंड) उनकी रसद (भत्ते) और वेतन से काट ले।

Word by Word

• तम्: that; it
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: sarvanāma; accusative singular; neuter; object of आददीत

• एषाम्: of these
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: sarvanāma; genitive plural; (common gender usage); dependent genitive with भक्तवेतनात् (‘of these’)

• भक्तवेतनात्: from (their) rations and wages
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त + वेतन
• Form: compound noun; ablative singular; neuter (as a collective/compound); source/ablative with आददीत (‘from rations and wages’)

• आददीत: should take; should collect/deduct
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √दा (ददाति)
• Form: vidhi-liṅ (optative); parasmaipada; 3rd person singular; ‘should take/collect’

Entities Mentioned

• state employees (implied)
• superintendent/department head (implied)

More Details

FAQs

What enforcement method does this sūtra authorize for administrative breaches?

Recovery by direct deduction from rations and wages—an internal, low-friction enforcement tool that avoids separate litigation.

What governance intent is visible here?

Tight departmental fiscal discipline: penalties are made collectible at source (pay/rations), reducing evasion and administrative cost.