Arthashastra 3.17.5: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 17, Sutra 5

Devanagari script

यथापराध इति कौटिल्यः ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.17.5

Transliteration

yathāparādha iti kauṭilyaḥ

Translation

कौटिल्य कहते हैं, जो करेगा, वही भुगतेगा। गलती जितनी बड़ी, सज़ा उतनी बड़ी।

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Word by Word

• यथा: as; according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (yathā = 'as, according to')

• अपराधः: offence; transgression
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराध
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; (इति-पूर्वं उद्धृतपद/वाक्यांश-रूपेण)

• इति: thus; so (marking a quotation/statement)
• Type: Particle
• Root: इति
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक; पूर्वोक्तस्य वाक्यांशस्य इति-चिह्ननम्

• कौटिल्यः: Kauṭilya
• Type: Noun (proper name)
• Root: कौटिल्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तृ/वक्तृ (authorial attribution)

Entities Mentioned

• Kauṭilya

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FAQs

What core sentencing principle is stated here?

Punishment must be calibrated to the gravity of the offence (proportionality), not applied uniformly.