Arthashastra 3.12.41: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 12, Sutra 41
Devanagari script
दाने शुचिः अन्यथा निक्षेपं स्तेयदण्डं च दद्यात् ॥ कZ_०३.१२.४१ ॥
Transliteration
dāne śuciḥ anyathā nikṣepaṃ steyadaṇḍaṃ ca dadyāt
Translation
अगर वो माल वापस दे दे, तो उसका काम साफ हो जाता है। अगर नहीं दे, तो वो माल वापस करेगा और चोरी करने वाले की सज़ा भी देगा।
Word by Word
दानेin the matter of a gift / in gifting
दाने:
TypeNoun
Rootदान
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचन (अधिकरण)
शुचिःpure; honest; (one should be) clean/straightforward
शुचिः:
TypeAdjective
Rootशुचि
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्ता-सम्बन्धः)
अन्यथाotherwise; if not (so)
अन्यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्यथा
Formअव्यय; प्रकार/विपर्ययार्थे
निक्षेपम्the deposit (entrusted property)
निक्षेपम्:
TypeNoun
Rootनिक्षेप
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्म
स्तेयदण्डम्the theft-penalty / punishment for stealing
स्तेयदण्डम्:
TypeNoun
Rootस्तेयदण्ड
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; कर्म; समासः = स्तेयस्य दण्डः
चand
च:
TypeParticle
Rootच
Formअव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक
दद्यात्should give/award (i.e., should return and impose)
दद्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootदा
Formलोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचन; विध्यर्थः
Entities Mentioned
C
custodianC
claimantC
court/king’s justice (implied)FAQs
Restitution repairs the victim’s loss; the theft-penalty deters custodians from treating entrusted property as a low-risk opportunity.
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