Sutra 31
Devanagari script
वित्तापहारिणो वा दासस्यार्यभावमपहरतोऽर्धदण्डः ॥ कZ_०३.१३.०७ ॥
Transliteration
vittāpahāriṇo vā dāsasyāryabhāvam apaharato'rdhadaṇḍaḥ
Translation
For one who steals property, and likewise for one who deprives a slave (dāsa) of the status/standing of an Ārya, the penalty is half the standard fine (ardha-daṇḍa).
Word by Word
वित्तwealth, property
वित्त:
TypeNoun
Rootवित्त (धन)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)
अपहारिणः(those) who take away/steal
अपहारिणः:
TypeNoun (agent)
Rootअप-हृ (हृ)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि-णिनि/इनि-प्रत्ययान्त (अपहारिन्)
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक अव्यय
दासस्यof a slave
दासस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootदास
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
आर्यभावम्the status/condition of an Ārya (free person)
आर्यभावम्:
TypeNoun
Rootआर्यभाव
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
अपहरतःof (one) who takes away/deprives
अपहरतः:
TypeVerb (participle)
Rootअप-हृ (हृ)
Formलट्-लकारार्थे शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त; परस्मैपदी; षष्ठी, एकवचन (यस्य—‘of one who is taking away’)
अर्धदण्डःhalf the penalty/fine
अर्धदण्डः:
TypeNoun
Rootअर्धदण्ड
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)
Entities Mentioned
D
dāsa (slave)Ā
ārya-bhāva (free status)FAQs
It targets unlawful manipulation of legal status—e.g., falsely denying a person’s protected standing or unlawfully converting/holding someone as non-free—treated as a punishable harm akin to theft.