Arthashastra 3.13.3: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 3

Devanagari script

म्लेच्छानामदोषः प्रजां विक्रेतुमाधातुं वा ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.13.3

Transliteration

mlecchānām adoṣaḥ prajāṃ vikretum ādhātuṃ vā

Translation

Di kalangan mleccha, menjual keturunan/anak sendiri atau menggadaikannya tidak dianggap sebagai pelanggaran.

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Word by Word

• म्लेच्छानाम्: of the mlecchas (foreign/non-Aryan people)
• Type: Noun
• Root: म्लेच्छ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-बहुवचन (gen. pl.)

• अदोषः: (it is) not a fault / no offence
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; नञ्-समास (अ- + दोष); प्रथमा-एकवचन (nom. sg.)

• प्रजाम्: the subjects / populace
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन (acc. sg.)

• विक्रेतुम्: to sell
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + क्री
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive); ‘to sell’

• आधातुम्: to place/settle/assign (them)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + धा
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive); ‘to place/assign/impose’

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय

Entities Mentioned

• mlecchas
• dependents/offspring

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FAQs

What administrative concept does this sutra illustrate?

Legal pluralism: the state recognizes differing customary norms for different communities, even on sensitive matters like servitude—though this sits uneasily with later restrictions in the same section.