Arthashastra 3.19.14: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 19, Sutra 14

Devanagari script

सक्थिग्रीवाभञ्जने नेत्रभेदने वा वाक्यचेष्टाभोजनोपरोधेषु च मध्यमः साहसदण्डः समुत्थानव्ययश्च ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.19.14

Transliteration

sakthigrīvābhañjane netrabhedane vā vākyaceṣṭābhojanoparodheṣu ca madhyamaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ samutthānavyayaś ca

Translation

किसी की टांग या गर्दन तोड़ने, आँख में चोट लगाने के लिए सज़ा मीडियम साहस जुर्माना लगेगा। साथ ही जो बंदा ठीक होने में खर्चा हुआ, वो भी देना पड़ेगा। अगर किसी की बात करने, हिलने-डुलने या खाने-पीने में रोका हो, तो भी यही सज़ा है।

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Word by Word

• सक्थि-ग्रीवा-भञ्जने: in the breaking of the thigh and neck (i.e., causing such fractures)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भञ्ज्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, एकवचनम्, सप्तमी (अधिकरणे); समासः: सक्थि (नपुं.) + ग्रीवा (स्त्री.) + भञ्जन (नपुं.) → 'सक्थिग्रीवाभञ्जन'

• नेत्र-भेदने: or in the injuring/piercing of the eye(s)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिद्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, एकवचनम्, सप्तमी (अधिकरणे); समासः: नेत्र (नपुं.) + भेदन (नपुं.) → 'नेत्रभेदन'

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Form: अव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थे

• वाक्य-चेष्टा-भोजन-उपरोधेषु: and in the obstruction/restraint of speech, movement/activity, and eating
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुध् (उप + रुध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (उपरोध), बहुवचनम्, सप्तमी (अधिकरणे); समासविग्रहः: वाक्यस्य उपरोधः, चेष्टायाः उपरोधः, भोजनस्य उपरोधः; समाहारद्वन्द्वेन त्रयाणाम् उपरोधानाम् समूहः

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थे

• मध्यमः: the middle (i.e., intermediate)
• Type: Adjective
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा; विशेषणम् (साहसदण्डस्य)

• साहस-दण्डः: the punishment/fine for violent assault (sāhasa-penalty)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड् (नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा; समासः: साहसस्य दण्डः

• समुत्थान-व्ययः: and the expenses for recovery/restoration
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यय (नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, एकवचनम्, प्रथमा; समासः: समुत्थानस्य व्ययः

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थे

Entities Mentioned

• victim
• offender
• state/judge

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative intent of prescribing ‘medium sāhasa’ plus expenses?

To standardize sentencing for serious injuries while ensuring the victim is economically restored through mandatory reimbursement, not merely punishing the offender.

Why list ‘speech, movement, eating’ obstruction?

Kauṭilya treats loss of functional capacity as a quantifiable harm to be penalized, aligning punishment with administrative concern for productivity and social stability.