Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 31

Devanagari script

मार्गविपर्यासे शवद्वारादन्यतश्च शवनिर्णयने पूर्वः साहसदण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.३६.३१ ॥

Transliteration

mārgaviparyāse śavadvārād anyataś ca śavanirṇayane pūrvaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ

Translation

Untuk menyimpang dari rute yang ditetapkan, membawa jenazah melalui gerbang selain gerbang jenazah, dan membuang jenazah tidak sesuai ketentuan yang telah ditetapkan: berlaku denda sāhasa ‘tingkat pertama’.

Word by Word

• मार्ग-विपर्यासे: when there is a deviation/alteration of the (corpse’s) route
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपर्यास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; ‘मार्गस्य विपर्यासे’ (मार्ग + विपर्यास)

• शव-द्वारात्: from the corpse-gate/door designated for the corpse
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी एकवचन; ‘शवस्य द्वारात्’

• अन्यतः: otherwise; from another place/route
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यतस्
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/दिशा-अर्थे

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• शव-निर्णयने: in the determination/inquest regarding the corpse
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्णयन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन; ‘शवस्य निर्णयने’

• पूर्वः: the first (i.e., lowest grade)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘पूर्वः’ = प्रथम/प्रथम-प्रकारः (दण्डभेदेषु)

• साहस-दण्डः: the penalty for violence/forcible wrongdoing (sāhasa-penalty)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘साहसस्य दण्डः’

Entities Mentioned

• corpse gate (śavadvāra)
• city gates
• mortuary officials/enforcers

More Details

FAQs

Why regulate routes and gates for corpse transport?

To isolate contamination, avoid panic/ritual offense in crowded areas, and enable monitoring against concealment of crime or improper disposal.

What does ‘pūrvaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ’ suggest?

A standardized graded penalty framework where violations are mapped to severity tiers, enabling consistent enforcement.