Sutra 4

Devanagari script

पक्षिमृगाणां जीवत् षड्भागमभयवनेषु प्रमुञ्चेत् ॥ कZ_०२.२६.०४ ॥

Transliteration

pakṣimṛgāṇāṃ jīvat ṣaḍbhāgam abhayavaneṣu pramuñcet

Translation

پکڑے گئے پرندوں اور جنگلی جانوروں میں سے ایک چھٹا حصہ زندہ حالت میں اَبھَی وَنوں (پناہ گاہوں) میں چھوڑ دے۔

Word by Word

• पक्षि-मृगाणाम्: of birds and wild animals
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन्; मृग
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (gen. pl.); समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः; ‘पक्षिणां च मृगाणां च’

• जीवत्: alive; living (i.e., alive ones)
• Type: Participle (Adjectival)
• Root: जीव्
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्तः (शतृ/शतॄ) ‘जीवत्’; नपुंसकलिङ्गे एकवचनम्—‘जीवत् (मांसम्/देहम्)’ इत्यर्थे कर्मविशेषणम्

• षड्भागम्: the one-sixth share (due to the state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड्; भाग
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (acc. sg.), पुंलिङ्गः; ‘षड्-भागः’ = one-sixth share

• अभयवनेषु: in protected forests (sanctuaries)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय; वन
• Form: सप्तमी-बहुवचनम् (loc. pl.), नपुंसकलिङ्गः; ‘अभय-वन’ = protected/safe forest

• प्रमुञ्चेत्: should release / should set free
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + मुच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; ‘he should release/let go’

Entities Mentioned

• abhayavana (sanctuary)
• birds
• wild animals

More Details

FAQs

What is the administrative intent behind releasing one-sixth of captured wildlife?

To maintain breeding stock and replenish wildlife populations in protected areas, ensuring long-term sustainability and state control over forest resources.

What is an ‘abhayavana’ in Kautilya’s administrative vocabulary?

A designated protected forest where certain animals/birds are safeguarded from harm, functioning as a state-managed sanctuary.