Arthashastra 3.13.37: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 37

Devanagari script

लभेत पुंश्चली भोगं संगमस्योपलिङ्गनात् ।

अतियाच्ना तु जीयेत दौर्मत्याविनयेन वा ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.13.37

Transliteration

labheta puṃścalī bhogaṃ saṃgamasyopaliṅganāt

atiyācnā tu jīyeta daurmatyāvinayena vā

Translation

Uma cortesã/mulher devassa pode obter gozo/benefício usando como pretexto ou “sinal” a intimidade (como prova ou incentivo). Ou pode-se obter vantagem por insistência excessiva, ou por má intenção e conduta insolente.

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Word by Word

• लभेत: would obtain / may get
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: धातु: लभ् (१P/आत्मनेपदी प्रयोगः); विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपद-समकक्षार्थे आत्मनेपदम्; अर्थः—‘प्राप्नुयात्/लभेत’

• पुंश्चली: a courtesan / prostitute
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंश्चली
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः; प्रथमा एकवचनम्; कर्तृपदम्
• In statecraft: पुंश्चली = वेश्या/गणिका (व्यवहार-प्रसङ्गे ‘prostitute/courtesan’)

• भोगम्: enjoyment / benefit
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; द्वितीया एकवचनम्; कर्मपदम्
• In statecraft: भोग = उपभोग्य-वस्तु/सुखोपभोगः (व्यवहारार्थे ‘enjoyment/benefit’)

• संगमस्य: of intercourse / union
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगम
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः; षष्ठी एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धः—‘of intercourse/union’
• In statecraft: संगम = मैथुन/समागम (sexual intercourse)

• उपलिङ्गनात्: from (the act of) embracing / because of embracing
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपलिङ्गन
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः; पञ्चमी एकवचनम्; हेतौ/अपादाने—‘from/because of embracing’
• In statecraft: उपलिङ्गन = आलिङ्गन (embrace; a sign/act indicating intimacy)

• अतियाच्ना: excessive solicitation/begging; importunate demand
• Type: Noun
• Root: याच्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम (अति-उपसर्गपूर्वक ‘याचना’ = अतियाचना)
• In statecraft: अत्यधिक-याचन/अतिप्रार्थना (अधिक-कर/अनुचित-याचन के अर्थ में)

• तु: but; however
• Type: Particle
• Root: तु
• Form: निपात; विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• जीयेत: should be defeated/overruled; should be punished (made to lose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु ‘जि’ (जयति)
• In statecraft: (राजा/अधिकारी द्वारा) पराजित/दण्डित किया जाए (न्याय-प्रक्रिया/दण्ड-प्रयोग में)

• दौर्मत्य: wicked intent; bad judgment
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मति
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; ‘दुर्मति’ से भाव/अवस्था (दौर्मत्य)
• In statecraft: दुष्टबुद्धि/कुटिल-उद्देश्य (प्रशासनिक/न्यायिक संदर्भ में)

• अविनयेन: misconduct; lack of discipline
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविनय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन
• In statecraft: अशिष्टाचार/अनुशासनहीनता (दण्डनीय आचरण)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: निपात; विकल्पार्थक

Sandhi Notes

• संगमस्योपलिङ्गनात् = संगमस्य + उपलिङ्गनात् (अ + उ → ओ; ‘स्य’ + ‘उ’ संयोगे ‘स्यो’)
• अन्यत्र सन्धिः न
• अतियाच्ना = अति + याचना (उपसर्ग-पूर्वक समास नहीं, उपसर्गयोग/उपपद-निर्माण)
• जीयेत (जि धातोः विधिलिङ् आत्मनेपद)
• दौर्मत्याविनयेन = दौर्मत्य + अविनयेन (स्वर-सन्धि: अ + अ → आ)

Entities Mentioned

• puṃścalī (courtesan/unchaste woman)

Topic and Governance

Prakarana (topic)

Illustrations of transactions/claims arising from inducement and improper conduct (contextual examples)

Governance domain

Civil disputes; evidentiary manipulation; regulation of claims

Vocabulary Breakdown

Technical Terms

FAQs

What administrative concern is implied by this line?

That personal relations and ambiguous ‘tokens’ can be used to manufacture claims; adjudication must be cautious about inducement and fabricated evidence.

How does this relate to governance rather than morality?

It flags predictable tactics used to extract concessions; a state must deter such conduct to keep transactions and dispute resolution orderly.