Arthashastra 3.10.42: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 10, Sutra 42

Devanagari script

उपहन्तृषु विशिष्टः ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.10.42

Transliteration

upahantṛṣu viśiṣṭaḥ

Translation

जब कई लोग मिल के कोई जुर्म करते हैं, तो सबसे बड़े गुनहगार को अलग से पकड़ना चाहिए। उसकी सज़ा सबसे ज़्यादा होनी चाहिए।

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Word by Word

• उपहन्तृषु: among the assailants / among those who cause harm
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप-हन् (हन्ति) / उपहन्तृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; सप्तमी विभक्ति; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘उपहन्तृ’ (उप-√हन् + तृच्), ‘उपहन्ता/उपहन्तृ’ = उपघातक/हिंसक/आक्रमणकर्ता; ‘-षु’ = सप्तमी बहुवचन
• In statecraft: उपहन्तृ = उपघातक/आक्रमणकर्ता/हानिकर्ता (दण्ड्य/विचार्य वर्ग)

• विशिष्टः: is distinguished / is exceptional / is the principal one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √शिष् (विशिष्यते) / विशिष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा विभक्ति; भूतकृदन्त (वि-√शिष् + क्त) ‘विशिष्ट’ = विशेषेण स्थित/श्रेष्ठ/प्रमुख

Sandhi Notes

• Sandhi resolution: उपहन्तृषु + विशिष्टः (no external sandhi change; visarga remains before a pause/॥)
• Internal formation: उप-√हन् + तृच् → उपहन्तृ
• loc. pl. → उपहन्तृषु

Entities Mentioned

• principal offender
• co-offenders

Topic and Governance

Prakarana (topic)

Aggravating factor among assailants

Governance domain

Criminal adjudication; sentencing principles

Vocabulary Breakdown

Technical Terms

FAQs

Who is 'viśiṣṭa' in a group offence?

Typically the instigator/leader or the one who delivers the decisive harm—identified to receive a higher sanction than mere participants.