Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 12

Devanagari script

हिंस्रिका निर्घातयेत् अमित्रविषयातिगाः पण्यपत्तनचारित्रोपघातिकाश्च ॥ कZ_०२.२८.१२ ॥

Transliteration

hiṃsrikā nirghātayet amitraviṣayātigāḥ paṇyapattanacāritropaghātikāśca

Translation

கொள்ளையர்/வன்முறையாளர் போன்ற தீயவர்களை அடக்க வேண்டும்—(சட்டவிரோதமாக) பகைவர் நாட்டுக்குள் நுழைவோர் மற்றும் வணிகம், துறைமுக நகரங்களின் நிலைபெற்ற பாதைகள்-நடமுறைகளை குலைப்போர் ஆகியோரை।

Word by Word

• हिंस्रिकाः: violent offenders; assailants
• Type: Noun/Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: हिंस्रिका (हिंस्र)
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (आ-प्रत्ययान्त); ‘हिंस्रिका’ = हिंस्र-स्वभावा स्त्रियः/जनाः (here: violent/assaulting persons)

• निर्घातयेत्: should strike down / eliminate
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्घातय् (नि + √घात्/√हन्; causative sense)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ्-भावे आज्ञार्थकः, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचनम्; causative/denominative sense ‘to cause to be struck down’

• अमित्र-विषय-अतिगाः: those who trespass into the enemy’s territory
• Type: Noun/Adjective (compound, used substantively)
• Root: अमित्र, विषय, अतिग (अति + √गम्)
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘अमित्रस्य विषयम् अतिगच्छन्ति’ इति—those who cross into the enemy’s territory

• पण्य-पत्तन-चारित्र-उपघातिकाः: those who sabotage trade, port/market towns, and public order/morality
• Type: Noun/Adjective (compound, used substantively)
• Root: पण्य, पत्तन, चारित्र, उपघातिक (उप + √हन्/घात)
• Form: प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘पण्यं च पत्तनं च चारित्रं च (एतेषाम्) उपघातं कुर्वन्ति’—those who damage trade, ports/market-towns, and public conduct/order

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

Entities Mentioned

• predatory criminals
• enemy territory (amitra-viṣaya)
• trade routes
• port-towns (pattana)

More Details

FAQs

What kinds of threats are being targeted here?

Both security threats (unauthorized movement linked to enemy contact) and economic threats (sabotage or disruption of trade-route norms and port operations).

What is the state interest in protecting ‘cāritra’ (established practice)?

Stable commercial customs reduce transaction costs and uncertainty; disrupting them harms revenue and public order.