Arthashastra 3.10.31 - Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 10, Sutra 31

Kautilya

←Previous SutraNext Sutra→

Arthashastra 3.10.31: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 10, Sutra 31

Devanagari script

अभयवनमृगाः परिगृहीता वा भक्षयन्तः स्वामिनो निवेद्य यथावध्यास्तथा प्रतिषेद्धव्याः ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.10.31

Transliteration

abhayavanamṛgāḥ parigṛhītā vā bhakṣayantaḥ svāmino nivedya yathāvadhyās tathā pratiṣeddhavyāḥ

Translation

जो जानवर जंगल में सुरक्षित हैं या किसी के पास बंद हैं, वो भी अगर खेत में घुस के खाएँ, तो मालिक को बताओ। फिर उन्हें वैसे ही रोकना है जैसे किसी खतरनाक जानवर को रोकते हैं।

Word by Word

अभयवनमृगाःthe deer/animals belonging to the protected (sanctuary) forest

परिगृहीताःhaving been seized/captured

वाor

भक्षयन्तःwhile eating/devouring

स्वामिनःof the owner/master

निवेद्यhaving reported (to the authority)

यथाas/according to how

अवध्याःnot to be killed; protected from slaughter

तथाso/in the same way

प्रतिषेद्धव्याःare to be prevented/restrained (from doing so)

Entities Mentioned

abhayavana (protected forest)

mṛga (wild animal)

svāmin (owner/authority)

FAQs

Why does the sūtra require informing the owner/authority before restraint?

It creates a documented chain of responsibility and prevents arbitrary action against valuable or protected animals.

What does 'as those liable to be killed' imply administratively?

A high-intensity prevention standard—swift, effective restraint to stop ongoing loss—without necessarily prescribing killing in every case.

Ask anything about this verse

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Arthashastra in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App