Sutra 23

Devanagari script

गणिकाभरणमर्थं भोगं वापहरतोऽष्टगुणो दण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२३ ॥

Transliteration

gaṇikābharaṇam arthaṃ bhogaṃ vā apaharato 'ṣṭaguṇo daṇḍaḥ.

Translation

ਜੋ ਕੋਈ ਗਣਿਕਾ ਦੇ ਗਹਿਣੇ, ਪੈਸਾ ਜਾਂ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਫੀਸ ਚੁਰਾਏ, ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਕੀਮਤ ਦਾ ਅੱਠ ਗੁਣਾ ਜੁਰਮਾਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ।

Word by Word

• गणिका-आभरणम्: the courtesan’s ornament(s)/jewellery
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणिका (स्त्री) ; आभरण (नपुं)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म) — ‘गणिकायाः आभरणम्’

• अर्थम्: property/wealth
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म)

• भोगम्: enjoyable goods/consumables
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (कर्म)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive ‘or’)

• अपहरतः: of (a person) who steals/takes away
• Type: Verb (participle)
• Root: अप-हृ
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा/सम्बोधन?— यहाँ षष्ठी एकवचन (genitive singular) ‘of one who steals/abducts’ (agent in genitive with दण्डः)

• अष्ट-गुणः: eightfold (in amount)
• Type: Noun (numeral compound)
• Root: अष्ट ; गुण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा — दण्डः का विशेषणम्

• दण्डः: the penalty/fine
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विधेय)

Entities Mentioned

• gaṇikā
• offender (thief/defrauder)
• state enforcement

More Details

FAQs

Why protect a gaṇikā’s property with an enhanced (eightfold) penalty?

Because the profession is state-regulated and revenue-relevant; protecting its economic stability supports public order and fiscal interests.