Arthashastra 3.13.37: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 37

Devanagari script

आत्मविक्रयिणः प्रजामार्यां विद्यात् ॥

Transliteration

ātmavikrayiṇaḥ prajām āryāṃ vidyāt

Translation

Seseorang yang menjual dirinya sendiri (ātma-vikrayin) hendaklah diiktiraf sebagai rakyat berstatus Ārya (āryā prajā).

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Word by Word

• आत्मविक्रयिणः: those who sell themselves; self-sellers
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: विक्रि (वि+क्री)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (or nominative plural used generically); -इन्/इण्-प्रत्ययान्त (विक्रयिन् ‘seller’)

• प्रजाम्: the subjects; the people
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन

• आर्याम्: as ‘āryā’ (free, non-servile)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: आर्या
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन; प्रजाम् इति विशेषणम्

• विद्यात्: should know; should recognize (as)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (to know)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; 3rd person singular; ‘should know/should deem’

Entities Mentioned

• ātma-vikrayin (self-seller)
• āryā prajā (Ārya subject)

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative significance of treating the self-seller as ‘āryā prajā’?

It prevents self-sale from converting into full loss of protected legal status; the state preserves baseline rights and avoids permanent, unregulated bondage.