Arthashastra 3.13.37: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 37

Devanagari script

आत्मविक्रयिणः प्रजामार्यां विद्यात् ॥ कZ_०३.१३.१३ ॥

Transliteration

ātmavikrayiṇaḥ prajām āryāṃ vidyāt

Translation

कोई भी औरत अपनी खुशी से किसी के साथ क्लोज़ हो कर फायदा उठा सकती है। यह सब उसकी मर्ज़ी का काम है, किसी ज़बरदस्ती नहीं।

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Word by Word

• आत्मविक्रयिणः: those who sell themselves; self-sellers
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: विक्रि (वि+क्री)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (or nominative plural used generically); -इन्/इण्-प्रत्ययान्त (विक्रयिन् ‘seller’)

• प्रजाम्: the subjects; the people
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन

• आर्याम्: as ‘āryā’ (free, non-servile)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: आर्या
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; प्रजाम् इति विशेषणम्

• विद्यात्: should know; should recognize (as)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (to know)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; 3rd person singular; ‘should know/should deem’

Entities Mentioned

• ātma-vikrayin (self-seller)
• āryā prajā (Ārya subject)

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative significance of treating the self-seller as ‘āryā prajā’?

It prevents self-sale from converting into full loss of protected legal status; the state preserves baseline rights and avoids permanent, unregulated bondage.