Arthashastra 3.2.31: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 2, Sutra 31
Devanagari script
बहुपुरुषप्रजानां पुत्राणां यथापितृदत्तं स्त्रीधनमवस्थापयेत् ॥
Transliteration
bahupuruṣaprajānāṃ putrāṇāṃ yathāpitṛdattaṃ strīdhanam avasthāpayet
Translation
अगर औरत के अलग-अलग आदमियों से बेटे हैं, तो दहेज का हिस्सा हर किसी को उसके बाप ने जो दिया था, उसके हिसाब से मिलना चाहिए।
Word by Word
बहु-पुरुष-प्रजानाम्of women/subjects connected with many men (i.e., women having multiple male relations/partners)
बहु-पुरुष-प्रजानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन; समासपद (बहु + पुरुष + प्रजा)
पुत्राणाम्of the sons
पुत्राणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र
Formपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन
यथाas; in the manner that
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
Formअव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक
अपिalso; even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
Formअव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (यहाँ ‘even/also’ भाव)
पितृ-दत्तम्given by the father
पितृ-दत्तम्:
TypeParticiple (Verbal adjective)
Rootदा (दाने)
Formकृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (स्त्रीधनम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)
स्त्री-धनम्woman’s property (strīdhana)
स्त्री-धनम्:
TypeNoun
Rootधन
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (कर्म)
अवस्थापयेत्should set aside / should duly establish (as belonging)
अवस्थापयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootस्था (तिष्ठति) [अव + स्था, णिच्]
Formलिङ् (विधिलिङ्); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; णिच् (कारयति) प्रयोगः
Entities Mentioned
S
sonsM
multiple fathers (bahupuruṣa)S
strīdhanaFAQs
Traceability: each son’s claim tracks the contribution/gift of his own father, limiting cross-claims and simplifying proof.
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