Sutra 19

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणस्य सत्त्रिपरिग्रहः श्रुतवतस्तपस्विनश्च ॥ कZ_०४.८.१९ ॥

Transliteration

brāhmaṇasya sattriparigrahaḥ śrutavataḥ tapasvinaś ca

Translation

ബ്രാഹ്മണനും—അതുപോലെ പണ്ഡിതനും തപസ്വിയും—‘സത്ത്രി’ തരത്തിലുള്ള പരിഗ്രഹം/പോഷണം (പരിമിതവും ആചാരപരവുമായ രൂപം) മാത്രമേ അനുവദനീയമാകൂ।

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणस्य: of a Brahmin
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्

• सत्: proper, legitimate
• Type: Adjective (Participle)
• Root: अस् (भू)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; परिग्रहः इति पदं विशेषयति

• त्रि-परिग्रहः: threefold acceptance/receipt (three kinds of permissible taking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + ग्रह्
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; ‘त्रयः परिग्रहाः यस्य’ इति (त्रिविधः परिग्रहः)

• श्रुतवतस्: of one who is learned (in the Veda/scripture)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुतवत्
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; ब्राह्मणस्य इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (श्रुतवान् = वेदाध्ययनयुक्तः)

• तपस्विनः: of an ascetic, of one practicing austerities
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: तपस्विन्
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; ब्राह्मणस्य इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

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

Entities Mentioned

• Brāhmaṇa
• learned person (śrutavat)
• ascetic (tapasvin)
• state authority

More Details

FAQs

Why would Kautilya restrict measures against Brahmins/learned/ascetics?

To preserve political legitimacy and social stability by respecting entrenched normative hierarchies and minimizing backlash from revered constituencies.