Arthashastra 3.11.18: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 11, Sutra 18

Devanagari script

असारं बालप्रातिभाव्यम् ॥

Transliteration

asāraṃ bālaprātibhāvyam

Translation

अगर कोई बच्चा गारंटी देता है तो उसका कोई वैल्यू नहीं। बच्चा छोटा है, उसकी गारंटी काम की नहीं।

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Word by Word

• असारम्: worthless; without substance; unsound
• Type: Noun (used adjectivally)
• Root: सार
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म/विशेष्य-विशेषणभावे)

• बालप्रातिभाव्यम्: a minor’s surety/guarantee (surety furnished by a minor)
• Type: Noun (gerundive/obligation noun)
• Root: प्रति√भू (प्रातिभाव्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया; ‘बालस्य प्रातिभाव्यम्’ = बाल-प्रातिभाव्यम्; प्रातिभाव्य = जामिनि/धर्मशास्त्रीय-प्रयोगे ‘surety/guarantee; bail’

Entities Mentioned

• minor (bāla)
• surety (pratibhu)

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FAQs

How does this relate to modern contract principles?

It parallels the doctrine that minors lack full capacity to bind themselves as guarantors, preventing exploitation through coerced guarantees.