Sutra 14

Devanagari script

सक्थिग्रीवाभञ्जने नेत्रभेदने वा वाक्यचेष्टाभोजनोपरोधेषु च मध्यमः साहसदण्डः समुत्थानव्ययश्च ॥ कZ_०३.१९.१४ ॥

Transliteration

sakthigrīvābhañjane netrabhedane vā vākyaceṣṭābhojanoparodheṣu ca madhyamaḥ sāhasadaṇḍaḥ samutthānavyayaś ca

Translation

Đối với việc làm gãy đùi hoặc gãy cổ, hoặc làm tổn thương mắt, và cả việc ngăn trở lời nói, cử động thân thể, hay việc ăn uống của người khác, hình phạt là mức phạt sāhasa trung bình, kèm theo việc bồi hoàn các chi phí hồi phục/điều trị của nạn nhân.

Word by Word

सक्थि-ग्रीवा-भञ्जनेin the breaking of the thigh and neck (i.e., causing such fractures)

नेत्र-भेदनेor in the injuring/piercing of the eye(s)

वाor

वाक्य-चेष्टा-भोजन-उपरोधेषुand in the obstruction/restraint of speech, movement/activity, and eating

चand

मध्यमःthe middle (i.e., intermediate)

साहस-दण्डःthe punishment/fine for violent assault (sāhasa-penalty)

समुत्थान-व्ययःand the expenses for recovery/restoration

चand

Entities Mentioned

victim

offender

state/judge

FAQs

What is the administrative intent of prescribing ‘medium sāhasa’ plus expenses?

To standardize sentencing for serious injuries while ensuring the victim is economically restored through mandatory reimbursement, not merely punishing the offender.

Why list ‘speech, movement, eating’ obstruction?

Kauṭilya treats loss of functional capacity as a quantifiable harm to be penalized, aligning punishment with administrative concern for productivity and social stability.