Arthashastra 3.12.4 - Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 12, Sutra 4

Kautilya

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Arthashastra 3.12.4: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 12, Sutra 4

Devanagari script

उपभोगनिमित्तं नष्टं विनष्टं वाभ्यावहेत् चतुर्विंशतिपणश्च दण्डः अन्यथा वा निष्पतने ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.12.4

Transliteration

upabhoganimittaṃ naṣṭaṃ vinaṣṭaṃ vābhyāvahet caturviṃśatipaṇaśca daṇḍaḥ anyathā vā niṣpatane

Translation

अगर उसने डिपॉजिट इस्तेमाल किया और वो खो गया या टूट गया, तो वो पूरा वापस करेगा। और चौबीस पाने का जुर्माना भी लगेगा। लेकिन अगर उसकी गलती नहीं है, वो ऐसे ही गायब हो गया, तो अलग रूल लगेगा।

Word by Word

उपभोग-निमित्तम्for the reason of use/enjoyment (as the cause for use)

नष्टम्lost

विनष्टम्destroyed/ruined (completely lost)

वाor

अभ्यावहेत्shall incur / shall be liable to pay

चतुर्विंशति-पणः(a fine of) twenty-four paṇas

चand

दण्डःfine/penalty

अन्यथाotherwise

वाor

निष्पतनेin the event of absconding/escape

Entities Mentioned

deposit-holder

depositor (implied)

FAQs

What is the key legal distinction introduced here?

Liability and the severity of punishment depend on causation: loss arising from the holder’s use triggers restoration plus a higher fine.

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