Arthashastra 3.13.3: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 3
Devanagari script
म्लेच्छानामदोषः प्रजां विक्रेतुमाधातुं वा ॥ कZ_०३.१३.०३ ॥
Transliteration
mlecchānām adoṣaḥ prajāṃ vikretum ādhātuṃ vā
Translation
म्लेच्छ लोगों के लिए अपने बच्चे बेचना या गिरवी रखना कोई पाप नहीं है। उनके यहाँ यह सब अलाउड है।
Word by Word
म्लेच्छानाम्of the mlecchas (foreign/non-Aryan people)
म्लेच्छानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootम्लेच्छ
Formपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन (gen. pl.)
अदोषः(it is) not a fault / no offence
अदोषः:
TypeNoun
Rootदोष
Formपुंलिङ्ग; नञ्-समास (अ- + दोष); प्रथमा-एकवचन (nom. sg.)
प्रजाम्the subjects / populace
प्रजाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन (acc. sg.)
विक्रेतुम्to sell
विक्रेतुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + क्री
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive); ‘to sell’
आधातुम्to place/settle/assign (them)
आधातुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootआ + धा
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive); ‘to place/assign/impose’
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक अव्यय
Entities Mentioned
M
mlecchasD
dependents/offspringFAQs
Legal pluralism: the state recognizes differing customary norms for different communities, even on sensitive matters like servitude—though this sits uneasily with later restrictions in the same section.
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