Arthashastra 3.18.12: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 18, Sutra 12
Devanagari script
आक्रोशाद्देवचैत्यानामुत्तमं दण्डमर्हति ॥
Transliteration
ākrośād devacaityānām uttamaṃ daṇḍam arhati
Translation
अगर कोई भगवान या मंदिर के लिए गंदा बोलता है, तो उसको सबसे बड़ा सज़ा मिलता है। यह बहुत बड़ा पाप है।
Word by Word
आक्रोशात्from/for (the act of) abusing; because of verbal insult
आक्रोशात्:
TypeNoun
Rootआ-√क्रुश् (क्रोशति) / आक्रोश (noun)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचन; अपादान/हेतु-अर्थे (because of/for)
देवचैत्यानाम्of shrines/holy places of the gods
देवचैत्यानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootदेव + चैत्य
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (चैत्य); षष्ठी बहुवचन; सम्बन्धे (of)
उत्तमम्the highest
उत्तमम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootउत्तम
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; दण्डम् इति विशेषणम्
दण्डम्punishment; penalty
दण्डम्:
TypeNoun
Rootदण्ड
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्म (object of अर्हति)
अर्हतिdeserves; is liable to
अर्हति:
TypeVerb
Root√अर्ह् (अर्हति)
Formलट्; परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; विध्यर्थ/योग्यता (deserves)
Entities Mentioned
D
Deva (deities)C
Caitya (shrines/monuments)FAQs
Sacred symbols anchor legitimacy and collective identity; attacking them can trigger mass unrest, so the state uses maximal deterrence.
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