Arthashastra 3.2.19: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 2, Sutra 19

Devanagari script

मृते भर्तरि धर्मकामा तदानीमेव स्थाप्याभरणं शुल्कशेषं च लभेत ॥ कZ_०३.२.१९ ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.2.19

Transliteration

mṛte bhartari dharmakāmā tadānīmeva sthāpyābharaṇaṃ śulkaśeṣaṃ ca labheta

Translation

เมื่อสามีถึงแก่ความตาย ภรรยาผู้ยึดมั่นในธรรมย่อมได้รับคืนเครื่องประดับที่ฝากไว้ และส่วนที่ค้างชำระของศุลกะ (ค่าสินสอด/ค่าตัวเจ้าสาว) ได้ทันที

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Word by Word

• मृते: when (he) is dead / upon the death
• Type: Participle (Verbal adjective)
• Root: मृ (मरणे)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकृत् (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे/स्त्रीलिङ्गे एकवचनम्; सप्तमी (सप्तमी-तत्काल/अधिकरण) — ‘मृते (भर्तरि)’ = ‘when the husband is dead’

• भर्तरि: in/with respect to the husband; when the husband (is dead)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; सप्तमी (अधिकरण)

• धर्मकामा: a woman devoted to dharma; a virtuous wife
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: धर्म + काम
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा (कर्ता)

• तदानीम्: then; at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदानीम्
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• एव: indeed; just; only
• Type: Particle
• Root: एव
• Form: निपात; अवधारणार्थक

• स्थाप्य: having set aside; after depositing
• Type: Gerund (Absolutive)
• Root: स्था (स्थाने)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (ल्यप्) अव्यय; ‘having placed/kept aside’

• आभरणम्: ornaments; jewellery
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभरण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (कर्म)

• शुल्कशेषम्: the remaining (unpaid) bride-price/dower balance
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: शुल्क + शेष
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (कर्म)

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

• लभेत: should receive; is entitled to obtain
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (प्राप्तौ)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative) परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; विध्यर्थ — ‘should obtain/receive’

Entities Mentioned

• wife
• deceased husband
• ornaments (ābharaṇa)
• śulka (bride-price)

More Details

FAQs

What administrative rule is stated for a widow classified as dharmakāmā?

She is entitled to immediate recovery of her deposited ornaments and any unpaid balance of śulka, indicating prompt enforcement of her proprietary claims.