Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 16

Devanagari script

स्वयं हन्ता घातयिता हर्ता हारयिता च वध्यः ॥ कZ_०२.२९.१६ ॥

Transliteration

svayaṃ hantā ghātayitā hartā hārayitā ca vadhyaḥ

Translation

ଯେ ନିଜେ ହତ୍ୟା କରେ, ଯେ ହତ୍ୟା କରାଏ, ଯେ ଚୋରି କରେ, ଯେ ଚୋରି କରାଏ—ସମସ୍ତେ ମୃତ୍ୟୁଦଣ୍ଡଯୋଗ୍ୟ।

Word by Word

• स्वयम्: personally; oneself
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्
• Form: अव्यय; ‘स्वतः/स्वयमेव’ इत्यर्थे

• हन्ता: the killer (one who kills)
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: हन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तरि तृच् (तृन्) प्रत्ययान्त ‘हन्तृ’ = हन्ता

• घातयिता: one who causes (another) to kill; instigator
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: घातय् (घातयति) < √हन् (णिच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तरि तृच् (तृन्) प्रत्ययान्त; causative-agent: ‘one who causes killing’

• हर्ता: the taker; robber; thief
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: हृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तरि तृच् (तृन्) प्रत्ययान्त ‘हर्तृ’ = हर्ता

• हारयिता: one who causes (another) to take away; instigator of theft
• Type: Noun (agent noun)
• Root: हारय् (हारयति) < √हृ (णिच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्तरि तृच् (तृन्) प्रत्ययान्त; causative-agent: ‘one who causes taking away’

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

• वध्यः: is to be executed; punishable by death
• Type: Adjective (predicative)
• Root: वध्‍य (from √वध/√हन्; ‘to be killed’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (भाव्य/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थः): ‘वध्‍य’ = ‘to be executed/liable to be killed’

Entities Mentioned

• principal offender
• abettor/instigator

More Details

FAQs

What legal doctrine is reflected by punishing instigators alongside direct actors?

Parity of liability for abetment: the state targets the entire criminal chain—planner, procurer, and executor—to strengthen deterrence.