Arthashastra 3.7.37: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 7, Sutra 37

Devanagari script

शूद्रसधर्माणो वा अन्यत्र चण्डालेभ्यः ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.7.37

Transliteration

śūdrasadharmāṇo vā anyatra caṇḍālebhyaḥ

Translation

या फिर इनको शूद्र जैसे नियम फॉलो करने दो। बस चांडालों के लिए अलग है, उनके साथ यह नहीं चलेगा।

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Word by Word

• शूद्र-सधर्माणः: (those) having the same dharma/status as Śūdras; i.e., treated like Śūdras
• Type: Noun (adjectival)
• Root: धर्म (with सह- as upapada)
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; विशेषणम् (शूद्राणां सधर्माणः = शूद्रधर्मसमाना: / शूद्रधर्मानुगाः)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (either/or)

• अन्यत्र: except; other than
• Type: Adverb
• Root: अन्यत्र
• Form: देश/विषय-निर्देशक-अव्ययम्; ‘except/elsewhere’ अर्थे

• चण्डालेभ्यः: from/than the Caṇḍālas (outcast group)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डाल
• Form: पञ्चमी-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; अपादान/अपवादार्थे (अन्यत्र … -भ्यः = ‘except from/other than …’)

Entities Mentioned

• śūdra
• caṇḍāla

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative function of assigning ‘Śūdra-equivalent’ norms to a group?

It provides a default rule-set for courts and officials when a group’s specific customs are unclear, enabling consistent rulings.