Arthashastra 3.16.32 - Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 16, Sutra 32

Kautilya

Arthashastra 3.16.32: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 16, Sutra 32

Devanagari script

ज्ञातयः श्रोत्रियाः पाषण्डा वा राज्ञामसंनिधौ परवास्तुषु विवसन्तो न भोगेन हरेयुः उपनिधिमाधिं निधिं निक्षेपं स्त्रियं सीमानं राजश्रोत्रियद्रव्याणि च ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.16.32

Transliteration

jñātayaḥ śrotriyāḥ pāṣaṇḍā vā rājñāmasaṃnidhau paravāstuṣu vivasanto na bhogena hareyuḥ upanidhimādhiṃ nidhiṃ nikṣepaṃ striyaṃ sīmānaṃ rājaśrotriyadravyāṇi ca

Translation

जब राजा नहीं होता, तब रिश्तेदार, पंडित या धरम के लोग दूसरों की ज़मीन पर रह के मालिक नहीं बन जाते। वो लोग किसी की अमानत, गिरवी, खज़ाना, औरत, बाउंड्री, या राजा और पंडित के माल पे हक नहीं जमा सकते।

Word by Word

ज्ञातयःkinsmen, relatives

श्रोत्रियाःlearned Vedic Brahmins (śrotriyas)

पाषण्डाःheretics/sectarians (pāṣaṇḍas)

वाor

राज्ञाम्of kings

असंनिधौin the absence (of them)

परवास्तुषुin others’ houses/premises

विवसन्तःliving/dwelling (there)

नnot

भोगेनby (the pretext of) enjoyment/use

हरेयुःshould take away/appropriate

उपनिधिम्a secret deposit (upanidhi)

आधिम्a pledge/mortgage (ādhi)

निधिम्a treasure/hoard (nidhi)

निक्षेपम्a deposit (nikṣepa)

स्त्रियम्a woman (i.e., a woman under protection/charge)

सीमानम्a boundary/landmark

राजश्रोत्रियद्रव्याणिproperty belonging to the king and to śrotriyas

चand

Entities Mentioned

kinsmen

śrotriya

pāṣaṇḍa

king

deposit/pledge institutions

FAQs

What is the administrative intent of listing specific items like deposits and boundaries?

To prevent opportunistic conversion of custodial/record-based rights into ownership through mere occupancy, thereby protecting fiscal assets, public order, and land administration.

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