Arthashastra 3.2.16 - Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 2, Sutra 16

Kautilya

Arthashastra 3.2.16: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 2, Sutra 16

Devanagari script

तदात्मपुत्रस्नुषाभर्मणि प्रवासाप्रतिविधाने च भार्याया भोक्तुमदोषः प्रतिरोधकव्याधिदुर्भिक्षभयप्रतीकारे धर्मकार्ये च पत्युः सम्भूय वा दम्पत्योर्मिथुनं प्रजातयोः ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.2.16

Transliteration

tad ātmaputra-snuṣā-bharmaṇi pravāsa-apratividhāne ca bhāryāyā bhoktum adoṣaḥ pratirodhaka-vyādhi-durbhikṣa-bhaya-pratīkāre dharmakārye ca patyuḥ sambhūya vā dampatyor mithunaṃ prajātayoḥ

Translation

अगर पति घर से बाहर है और कुछ अरेंजमेंट नहीं छोड़ा है, तो बीवी उस पैसे को यूज़ कर सकती है। अपने लिए, बेटे के लिए, बहू के लिए। बिमारी हो, कोई दिक्कत हो, खाने का टाइम हो, खतरा हो, या पति का धरम का काम हो, तब यूज़ कर सकती है। अगर दोनों मिलके डिसाइड करें, तो बच्चे और घर बसाने के लिए भी यूज़ कर सकती हैं।

Word by Word

तत्that; in that case/with regard to that

आत्मone’s own (self)

पुत्रson

स्नुषाdaughter-in-law

भर्मणिin (the matter of) maintenance/support

प्रवासabsence; living away (from home)

अप्रतिविधानेin the non-provision / in the absence of arrangements

चand

भार्यायाःof the wife

भोक्तुम्to enjoy; to consume; to make use of

अदोषः(it is) not a fault; blameless

प्रतिरोधकobstructing; an impediment

व्याधिdisease

दुर्भिक्षfamine; scarcity

भयfear; danger

प्रतीकारेin remedy/relief (measures)

धर्मreligious duty

कार्येin (the performance of) a duty/act

चand

पत्युःof the husband

सम्भूयhaving come together; jointly

वाor

दम्पत्योःof the married couple

मिथुनम्sexual union; cohabitation

प्रजातयोःof the progeny/offspring

Entities Mentioned

wife

husband

son

daughter-in-law

FAQs

What is the state’s administrative interest in permitting the wife’s use of strīdhana in emergencies?

It prevents household collapse and reduces public burden during crises (illness, famine, danger) by legally enabling timely private expenditure without fear of later prosecution or claims of misappropriation.

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