Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 11

Devanagari script

घ्नतः पञ्चाशत्को दण्डः क्लिष्टघातं घातयतश्च ॥ कZ_०२.२६.११ ॥

Transliteration

ghnataḥ pañcāśatko daṇḍaḥ kliṣṭaghātaṃ ghātayataś ca

Translation

انہیں قتل کرنے پر پچاس پَن کا جرمانہ ہے؛ اور اسی طرح تکلیف دہ/معذور کر دینے والی چوٹ لگوانے پر بھی۔

Word by Word

• घ्नतः: of one who kills / for the killer
• Type: Verb (Kṛdanta participle)
• Root: हन् (घ्ना-आदेश)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी/सप्तमी एकवचनम् (घ्नत्-शब्दः) — ‘of/for one who is killing’

• पञ्चाशत्कः: a fine/penalty of fifty (units)
• Type: Noun (numeral-derived)
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (संख्या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘पञ्चाशत्’ इत्यस्य -क-प्रत्ययेन ‘पञ्चाशत्क’ (fifty-unit)

• दण्डः: punishment; (here) fine/penalty
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• क्लिष्टघातम्: a grievous/severe blow (aggravated assault)
• Type: Noun (compound)
• Root: क्लिष्ट + घात
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘क्लिष्टः’ (severe/painful) + ‘घातः’ (blow/assault) → ‘क्लिष्टघात’

• घातयतः: of one who causes (someone) to strike / who instigates beating
• Type: Verb (Kṛdanta participle)
• Root: हन् (णिच्: घातयति)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त धातु (causative) ‘घातयति’; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी/सप्तमी एकवचनम् — ‘of/for one who causes to strike/causes beating’

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

Entities Mentioned

• offender
• instigator (one who causes harm)

More Details

FAQs

What governance principle is shown by penalizing both killer and instigator?

Command responsibility: the state targets not only the direct actor but also the person who orders or causes the harm, closing evasion routes.