Arthashastra 3.4.17 - Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 4, Sutra 17

Kautilya

←Previous SutraNext Sutra→

Arthashastra 3.4.17: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 4, Sutra 17

Devanagari script

गम्येन वा पुंसा सह प्रस्थाने चतुर्विंशतिपणः सर्वधर्मलोपश्च अन्यत्र भर्मदानतीर्थगमनाभ्याम् ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.4.17

Transliteration

gamyena vā puṃsā saha prasthāne caturviṃśatipaṇaḥ sarvadharmalopaś ca anyatra bharmadāna-tīrthagamanābhyām

Translation

अगर कोई औरत ऐसे आदमी के साथ भाग जाए जिसके साथ रहना मना है, तो २४ पण जुर्माना लगेगा। उसके बाद उसका कोई लीगल राइट नहीं रहेगा। लेकिन अगर वो जा रही है किसी की मदद करने, या तीरथ यात्रा पे, तो कोई सज़ा नहीं।

Word by Word

गम्येनto/with the destination (place to be gone to)

वाor

पुंसाwith a man/person (traveller)

सहtogether with

प्रस्थानेat the time of departure / on setting out

चतुर्विंशतिपणः(there is) a fine of twenty-four paṇas

सर्वधर्मलोपःand forfeiture of all rights/entitlements

चand

अन्यत्रexcept / otherwise than

भर्मदानतीर्थगमनाभ्याम्except in the two cases of ‘bharmadāna’ and going on pilgrimage

Entities Mentioned

woman

man (prohibited/unsuitable partner)

state/judicial authority

FAQs

What is the state’s response when a woman leaves with an improper/prohibited man?

A monetary fine (24 paṇas) plus civil/legal forfeiture, with limited exceptions for maintenance-related travel or pilgrimage.

Why do exceptions matter here?

They prevent penalizing socially legitimate mobility (support/maintenance arrangements and religious travel) while still discouraging destabilizing elopements.

Ask anything about this verse

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Arthashastra in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App