Sutra 30

Devanagari script

सकृदात्माधाता निष्पतितः सीदेत्द्विरन्येनाहितकः सकृदुभौ परविषयाभिमुखौ ॥ कZ_०३.१३.०६ ॥

Transliteration

sakṛdātmādhātā niṣpatitaḥ sīdet dvir anyenāhitakaḥ sakṛd ubhau paraviṣayābhimukhau

Translation

One who has pledged his own person (ātma-ādhātā) and then absconds shall be made to remain (kept under restraint/compelled to serve). One who has been pledged by another (āhitaka) twice (i.e., repeatedly transferred/pledged) [is to be regulated accordingly]. In both cases, if they turn toward another jurisdiction (paraviṣaya), [special restraint/controls apply] once (i.e., immediately).

Word by Word

सकृत्once; a single time

आत्माधाताthe one who himself makes the deposit/sets the stake

निष्पतितःhaving come forth; having entered (the action)

सीदेत्should be made to lose / should be at a disadvantage

द्विःtwice

अन्येनby another (person)

आहितकःthe one who has deposited/placed (the stake)

सकृत्once

उभौboth (of them)

परविषयाभिमुखौboth facing toward the other side/another’s sphere

Entities Mentioned

ātma-ādhātā (self-pledger)

āhitaka (person pledged by another)

paraviṣaya (other territory)

FAQs

What governance problem is being addressed by mentioning ‘paraviṣaya’ (another territory)?

Flight across jurisdictions undermines enforcement; Kautilya anticipates cross-border evasion and prescribes immediate restraint/controls when a pledged person attempts to leave the ruler’s territory.

What is the administrative intent behind regulating repeated pledging?

To prevent exploitation/trafficking-like repeated transfers and to preserve clarity of obligation and liability in pledged-service arrangements.