Arthashastra 3.11.21: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 11, Sutra 21

Devanagari script

दम्पत्योः पितापुत्रयोः भ्रातृऋणां चाविभक्तानां परस्परकृतमृणमसाध्यम् ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.11.21

Transliteration

dampatyoḥ pitāputrayoḥ bhrātṛṛṇāṃ cāvibhaktānāṃ parasparakṛtam ṛṇam asādhyam

Translation

मिया-बीवी के बीच, बाप-बेटा के बीच, या भाई-भाई के बीच जब तक बाँट नहीं हुई है, अगर एक ने दूसरे से उधार लिया है, तो वो माने में नहीं आता। कोर्ट उसको रिकवर नहीं कर सकता।

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Word by Word

• दम्पत्योः: of the husband and wife (spouses)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्पती
• Form: षष्ठी-द्विवचनम् (Genitive Dual); पुंलिङ्ग (दम्पती-शब्दः, दम्पति-द्वन्द्वार्थकः)

• पिता: father
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्ग

• पुत्रयोः: of the two sons / of father and son (as a pair, contextually)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: षष्ठी-द्विवचनम् (Genitive Dual); पुंलिङ्ग

• भ्रातृ: of brothers
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive Plural) — वैदिक/आर्ष-रूपेण; अर्थतः ‘भ्रातॄणाम्’

• ऋणाम्: of debts / of debtors (contextually: debts)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive Plural); नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• अविभक्तानाम्: of those who are undivided (not partitioned)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविभक्त
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Genitive Plural); पुंलिङ्ग (समूहवाचकः); ‘अ-’ नञ् + ‘विभक्त’ (वि+√भज्/√भक्त- ‘divided’)

• परस्परकृतम्: made by one another; mutually contracted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परस्परकृत
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘परस्पर’ (mutual) + ‘कृत’ (ppp of √कृ)

• ऋणम्: debt (loan/obligation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• असाध्यम्: not recoverable; not enforceable (in law)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असाध्य
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; नञ् + साध्य (gerundive from √साध्)

Entities Mentioned

• spouses
• father and son
• undivided brothers

More Details

FAQs

Why would the state treat intra-household debts as non-actionable here?

To prevent collusion and fragmentation of joint household property through strategic lawsuits, and to keep internal family accounting outside state enforcement.