Arthashastra 3.2.19: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 2, Sutra 19

Devanagari script

मृते भर्तरि धर्मकामा तदानीमेव स्थाप्याभरणं शुल्कशेषं च लभेत ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.2.19

Transliteration

mṛte bhartari dharmakāmā tadānīmeva sthāpyābharaṇaṃ śulkaśeṣaṃ ca labheta

Translation

जब पति मर जाए, पत्नी जो धरम निभाती है उसको तुरंत अपना गेहना वापस मिल जाएगा। दुल्हन के पैसे जो भी बचे हैं वो भी उसको मिलेंगे।

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Word by Word

• मृते: when (he) is dead / upon the death
• Type: Participle (Verbal adjective)
• Root: मृ (मरणे)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकृत् (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे/स्त्रीलिङ्गे एकवचनम्; सप्तमी (सप्तमी-तत्काल/अधिकरण) — ‘मृते (भर्तरि)’ = ‘when the husband is dead’

• भर्तरि: in/with respect to the husband; when the husband (is dead)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी (अधिकरण)

• धर्मकामा: a woman devoted to dharma; a virtuous wife
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: धर्म + काम
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा (कर्ता)

• तदानीम्: then; at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदानीम्
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• एव: indeed; just; only
• Type: Particle
• Root: एव
• Form: निपात; अवधारणार्थक

• स्थाप्य: having set aside; after depositing
• Type: Gerund (Absolutive)
• Root: स्था (स्थाने)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (ल्यप्) अव्यय; ‘having placed/kept aside’

• आभरणम्: ornaments; jewellery
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभरण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (कर्म)

• शुल्कशेषम्: the remaining (unpaid) bride-price/dower balance
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: शुल्क + शेष
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (कर्म)

• च: and
• Type: Conjunction
• Root: च
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• लभेत: should receive; is entitled to obtain
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (प्राप्तौ)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative) परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; विध्यर्थ — ‘should obtain/receive’

Entities Mentioned

• wife
• deceased husband
• ornaments (ābharaṇa)
• śulka (bride-price)

More Details

FAQs

What administrative rule is stated for a widow classified as dharmakāmā?

She is entitled to immediate recovery of her deposited ornaments and any unpaid balance of śulka, indicating prompt enforcement of her proprietary claims.