Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 1 Sutra 32 - Arthashastra | Chinese | Vedapath

Kautilya

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Sutra 32

Devanagari script

वानप्रस्थादन्यः प्रव्रजितभावः सजातादन्यः संघः सामुत्थायिकादन्यः समयानुबन्धो वा नास्य जनपदमुपनिविशेत ॥ कZ_०२.०१.३२ ॥

Transliteration

vānaprasthād anyaḥ pravrajitabhāvaḥ sajātād anyaḥ saṃghaḥ sāmutthāyikād anyaḥ samayānubandho vā nāsya janapadam upaniviśeta

Translation

除林栖者（vānaprastha）之外，不得允许任何遁世出家之团体；不得允许由非本地宗族/社群之人组成的僧团（saṃgha）；亦不得允许除合法合作社（sāmutthāyika）之外、以盟约/契约相系之集体在王之乡野定居。

Word by Word

वानप्रस्थात्from a vānaprastha (forest-dweller)

अन्यःanother/different (person)

प्रव्रजित-भावःone having the status/condition of a renunciant

सजातात्from one of the same kind/stock (same community)

अन्यःanother/different

संघःan association/collective (corporate body)

सामुत्थायिकात्from a collectively arisen/collectively formed (group/undertaking)

अन्यःanother/different

समय-अनुबन्धःa bond based on an agreement/compact (contractual tie)

वाor

नnot

अस्यof him/of this (king/state)

जनपदम्the territory/realm (country)

उपनिविशेतshould settle/establish himself (in)

Entities Mentioned

vānaprastha

pravrajita groups

saṃgha (association)

sāmutthāyika (cooperative)

samaya-anubandha collectives

janapada (countryside)

FAQs

Why restrict outside saṃghas and pact-bound groups from settling?

They can form autonomous power centers, mobilize followers, and undermine taxation, policing, and loyalty—creating ‘state within a state’ risks.

Why exempt vānaprasthas and recognized cooperatives?

They are treated as less politically disruptive: vānaprasthas are socially legible and limited, while cooperatives can be economically productive and monitorable.