Sutra 44

Devanagari script

दाने शुचिः अन्यथा निक्षेपं स्तेयदण्डं च दद्यात् ॥ कZ_०३.१२.४४ ॥

Transliteration

dāne śuciḥ anyathā nikṣepaṃ steyadaṇḍaṃ ca dadyāt

Translation

ਜੇ ਉਹ ਵਾਪਸ ਕਰ ਦੇਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਉਹ ਬੇਦੋਸ਼ ਹੈ; ਨਹੀਂ ਤਾਂ ਜਮ੍ਹਾਂ ਚੀਜ਼ ਵਾਪਸ ਕਰੇ ਅਤੇ ਚੋਰੀ ਦੀ ਸਜ਼ਾ ਵੀ ਭਰੇ।

Word by Word

• दाने: in the matter of a gift / at the time of giving
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी (अधिकरण)

• शुचिः: is pure / is free from fault
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: शुचि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा; कर्तृपद (दाता/व्यवहर्ता)

• अन्यथा: otherwise / if it is not so
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/विपर्ययार्थे

• निक्षेपम्: the deposit / entrusted property
• Type: Noun
• Root: निक्षेप
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (कर्म)

• स्तेयदण्डम्: the theft-penalty / punishment for stealing
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (कर्म); समासः: स्तेयस्य दण्डः

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

• दद्यात्: should give / should restore / should impose
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (दाने)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; वर्तमानकालिक-आदेश (विधि)

Entities Mentioned

• custodian
• claimant

More Details

FAQs

Why is the same penalty formula repeated across scenarios?

Kauṭilya standardizes the compliance incentive: regardless of the depositor’s profile, non-return is treated as misappropriation with theft-like punishment.