Sutra 16

Devanagari script

प्रकाशार्थमल्पमूर्ध्वं वातायनं कारयेत् ॥ कZ_०३.८.१६ ॥

Transliteration

prakāśārthamalpamūrdhvaṃ vātāyanaṃ kārayet

Translation

ਰੌਸ਼ਨੀ ਲਈ ਉੱਪਰ ਵੱਲ ਛੋਟੀ ਖਿੜਕੀ (ਵਾਤਾਯਨ) ਬਣਾਉਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• प्रकाशार्थम्: for illumination / for the purpose of light
• Type: Noun (compound used adverbially)
• Root: प्रकाश + अर्थ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया; ‘-अर्थम्’ इति प्रयोजनार्थे अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (for the purpose of …)

• अल्पम्: small; of small size
• Type: Adjective (used as noun/adverbial qualifier)
• Root: अल्प
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया; ‘वातायनम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (small)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards; higher up
• Type: Indeclinable (adverb)
• Root: ऊर्ध्व
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचकं क्रियाविशेषणम् (upwards/above)

• वातायनम्: a window; an opening/vent for air (and light)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात + अयन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया; कर्मपदम् (object of कारयेत्)

• कारयेत्: should cause (it) to be made; should have (it) constructed
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (णिच्)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative sense) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त (causative): ‘(he) should cause to be made / should have made asked to be constructed’

Entities Mentioned

• householder
• neighboring household

More Details

FAQs

What policy rationale is served by requiring windows to be small and high?

It permits illumination/ventilation while limiting views into neighboring premises, reducing voyeurism, conflict, and security risks.