Sutra 38

Devanagari script

विवादपदेषु चैषां यावन्तः पणा दण्डास्तावती रात्रीः क्षपणाभिषेकाग्निकार्यमहाकच्छवर्धनानि राज्ञश्चरेयुः ॥ कZ_०३.१६.३८ ॥

Transliteration

vivādapadeṣu caiṣāṃ yāvantaḥ paṇā daṇḍāstāvatī rātrīḥ kṣapaṇābhiṣekāgnikāryamahākacchavardhanāni rājñaś careyuḥ

Translation

ਅਤੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਵਾਦਿਤ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ, ਜਿੰਨੇ ਪਣ ਦਾ ਜੁਰਮਾਨਾ ਲਾਇਆ ਜਾਵੇ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਹੀ ਰਾਤਾਂ ਲਈ ਉਹ ਰਾਜੇ ਦੇ ਹੁਕਮ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਖ਼ਪਣ, ਅਭਿਸ਼ੇਕ, ਅਗਨਿਕਾਰਯ ਅਤੇ ਮਹਾਕੱਛਵਰਧਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਰਤ/ਅਨੁਸ਼ਠਾਨ (ਪ੍ਰਾਯਸ਼ਚਿੱਤ) ਕਰਨ।

Word by Word

विवादपदेषुin the matters/grounds of dispute (in dispute-cases)

चand

एषाम्of these

यावन्तःas many as

पणाःpaṇas (monetary units)

दण्डाःfines/penalties

तावतीःthat many

रात्रीःnights (as a measure of time)

क्षपणthe Kṣapaṇa (ascetic, esp. Jaina)

अभिषेकconsecration (rite)

अग्निकार्यfire-ritual/oblation duty

महाकच्छMahākaccha (a region/locality)

वर्धनानिprosperity-promoting observances/augmentations

राज्ञःof the king

चand

चरेयुःshould be observed/performed

Entities Mentioned

king (rājā)

Kṣapaṇa

Abhiṣeka-observants

Agnikārya-observants

Mahākacchavardhana-observants

FAQs

What administrative principle is implied by linking fines (paṇas) to nights of penance?

A standard conversion rule: monetary liability is mapped to a measurable non-monetary sanction (nights of observance), enabling predictable and enforceable penalties even for groups where monetary collection is impractical or socially sensitive.

Why are specific observances named?

To constrain discretion and prevent arbitrary ‘religious’ punishments; the state recognizes certain penances and ties them to quantified liability under royal authority.