Arthashastra 3.11.34: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 11, Sutra 34
Devanagari script
ब्राह्मणोदकुम्भाग्निसकाशे साक्षिणः परिगृह्णीयात् ॥
Transliteration
brāhmaṇodakumbhāgnisakāśe sākṣiṇaḥ parigṛhṇīyāt
Translation
गवाह को बुलाने के लिए पंडित, पानी का मटका और आग के सामने बुलाओ। तब ही उनकी बात मानी जाती है।
Word by Word
ब्राह्मणa Brahmin (a respected/authoritative person for the act)
ब्राह्मण:
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/सप्तमी एकवचन (सन्दर्भानुसार—सप्तमी अधिक युक्ता: ‘ब्राह्मणे’ इत्यर्थे)
उदकुम्भa water-pot (ritual vessel of water)
उदकुम्भ:
TypeNoun
Rootउदकुम्भ
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/सप्तमी एकवचन (सन्दर्भानुसार—सप्तमी: ‘उदकुम्भे’ इत्यर्थे)
अग्निfire (sacred fire)
अग्नि:
TypeNoun
Rootअग्नि
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/सप्तमी एकवचन (सन्दर्भानुसार—सप्तमी: ‘अग्नौ’ इत्यर्थे)
सकाशेin the presence of; near
सकाशे:
TypeNoun
Rootसकाश
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘समीपे/अन्तिके’
साक्षिणःwitnesses
साक्षिणः:
TypeNoun
Rootसाक्षिन्
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन (साक्षिणः = साक्षिणान्)
परिगृह्णीयात्should accept/receive (formally take)
परिगृह्णीयात्:
TypeVerb
Rootग्रह् (परि-ग्रह्)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; वर्तमानकालः; ‘परिगृह्णीयात्’ = ‘should take/receive/accept’
Entities Mentioned
B
Brāhmaṇa officiantF
fire (agni)FAQs
It increases perceived moral and social cost of lying, strengthening compliance where forensic verification is limited.
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.
