Arthashastra 3.4.39: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 4, Sutra 39

Devanagari script

बहुषु प्रत्यासन्नं धार्मिकं भर्मसमर्थं कनिष्ठमभार्यं वा ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.4.39

Transliteration

bahuṣu pratyāsannaṃ dhārmikaṃ bharmasamarthaṃ kaniṣṭham abhāryaṃ vā

Translation

اگر کئی (اہل رشتہ دار) ہوں تو ترجیح اسے ہے جو سب سے قریب ہو، دین/قانون کا پابند ہو، گھر کا خرچ اٹھانے کے قابل ہو، (مناسب طور پر) کم عمر ہو، اور/یا جس کی بیوی نہ ہو۔

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Word by Word

• बहुषु: among many; in many (cases/people)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: बहु
• Form: सप्तमी-बहुवचनम् (पुं/नपुं), विशेषणम्; ‘among many (persons/cases)’

• प्रत्यासन्नम्: nearby; readily available; close at hand
• Type: Adjective/PPP (used adjectivally)
• Root: प्रति-आस्/सद् (प्रत्यासन्न)
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम् नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (or पुं. acc. sg. by context); ‘near/available/at hand’

• धार्मिकम्: righteous; lawful; in accordance with dharma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम् नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (or पुं. acc. sg.); ‘righteous/according to dharma’

• भर्मसमर्थम्: capable of bearing the burden; competent/able
• Type: Adjective (compound)
• Root: भर्म + समर्थ
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम् नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (or पुं. acc. sg.); ‘भर्मस्य समर्थः’ = capable of bearing/supporting the burden

• कनिष्ठम्: the youngest; junior; the least (in seniority)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनिष्ठ
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम् नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (or पुं. acc. sg.); ‘the youngest/junior/least’

• अभार्यम्: without (a) wife/dependents; not burdened with maintenance obligations
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-भार्य
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनम् नपुंसकलिङ्गम् (or पुं. acc. sg.); नञ्-प्रत्ययः; ‘not to be maintained/burdened’ / ‘not having a wife’ (context-dependent)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थकः

Entities Mentioned

• eligible kinsmen
• wife/dependents

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FAQs

Why does ‘capacity to maintain’ matter in legal eligibility?

Because the state’s concern is not only ritual propriety but enforceable support for the woman, child, and household—reducing vagrancy and litigation.