Arthashastra 3.13.29: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 13, Sutra 29

Devanagari script

अथवार्यमाधाय कुलबन्धन आर्याणामापदि निष्क्रयं चाधिगम्य बालं साहाय्यदातारं वा पूर्वं निष्क्रीणीरन् ॥

Transliteration

athavāryamādhāya kulabandhana āryāṇāmāpadi niṣkrayaṃ cādhigamya bālaṃ sāhāyyadātāraṃ vā pūrvaṃ niṣkrīṇīran

Translation

หรืออีกทางหนึ่ง ให้เอาบุคคลผู้สมควร (อารยะ) เป็นหลักประกัน หรือให้ผู้ค้ำประกันตระกูล (kulabandhana) และเมื่อจัดหาเงินไถ่สำหรับอารยะที่ตกทุกข์ได้แล้ว ควรไถ่ตัวเด็กหรือผู้ให้ความช่วยเหลือ/สนับสนุนก่อน.

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Word by Word

• अथ: now; alternatively
• Type: Particle
• Root: अथ
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/विकल्पार्थे (‘now/then/alternatively’)

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

• आर्यम्: an ārya (free/respectable person)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: आर्य
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (कर्मपदम्)

• आधाय: having placed/pledged (as security)
• Type: Verb (absolutive)
• Root: आ-धा
• Form: क्त्वान्त (ल्यप्) अव्यय; ‘आ-धा’ धातोः; अर्थः ‘स्थापयित्वा/निक्षिप्य’

• कुलबन्धनम्: a family bond/surety (family as security)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलबन्धन
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; ‘कुलस्य बन्धनम्’

• आर्याणाम्: of āryas (free persons)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गम्

• आपदि: in calamity/distress
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद्
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनम्; स्त्रीलिङ्गम्; अधिकरणे

• निष्क्रयम्: the redemption price (ransom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्क्रय
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गम्/नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (प्रयोगे भेदः); कर्मपदम्

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• अधिगम्य: having ascertained/obtained
• Type: Verb (absolutive)
• Root: अधि-गम्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (ल्यप्) अव्यय; ‘अधि-गम्’ धातोः; अर्थः ‘प्राप्य/लभित्वा/ज्ञात्वा’

• बालम्: a minor/child
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: बाल
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गम्; कर्मपदम्

• साहाय्यदातारम्: a giver of assistance (helper/surety)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साहाय्यदातार
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्गम्; ‘साहाय्यस्य दातारम्’

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

• पूर्वम्: first; beforehand
• Type: Adverb
• Root: पूर्व
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषणम्

• निष्क्रीणीरन्: they should redeem (buy back)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस्-√क्री (क्रीणाति)
• Form: विधिलिङ्/लोट्-आदेशार्थक? (आज्ञार्थे) 3पुरुष-बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; धातुः ‘क्री’ (to buy) उपसर्गः ‘निस्/निष्’; अर्थः ‘निष्क्रयणं कुर्युः/क्रियेत’

Entities Mentioned

• ārya (free person)
• kulabandhana (family guarantor)
• bāla (minor)
• sāhāyyadātṛ (supporter)

More Details

FAQs

What administrative priority does this rule set in redemption cases?

When arranging redemption funds and surety, the state/legal order prioritizes redeeming minors or key supporters first, indicating a welfare-and-capacity logic (protect vulnerable persons and preserve productive support).

Why require a surety (ārya/kulabandhana) before redemption steps?

It reduces fraud and ensures enforceability—an early form of risk management in civil transactions involving pledged service.