Sutra 2

Devanagari script

खनिसारकर्मान्तेभ्यः सारं रत्नं वापहरतः शुद्धवधः ॥ कZ_०४.९.०२ ॥

Transliteration

khanisārakarmāntebhyaḥ sāraṃ ratnaṃ vā apaharataḥ śuddhavadhaḥ

Translation

凡从矿山或国营工场盗取矿精/金属精华（sāra）或宝石者，处以死刑。

Word by Word

• खनिसारकर्मान्तेभ्यः: from mines, ore-deposits/metal sources, and workshops
• Type: Noun
• Root: खनि/सार/कर्मान्त
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसदृश-समासित-प्रातिपदिक; पञ्चमी-बहुवचन (ablative plural)

• सारम्: ore/valuable essence
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन (accusative singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• रत्नम्: a gem/precious item
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन (accusative singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive)

• अपहरतः: (of) the two who steal/embezzle
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-हृ
• Form: लट्-लकार; परस्मैपद; प्रथमा-द्विवचन (or प्रथमा-बहुवचन as Vedic/older usage, but here standard: dual); वर्तमानकाल; कर्तरि; धातु: हृ (हरति) उपसर्ग: अप

• शुद्धवधः: execution (the death penalty)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध/वध
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचन (nominative singular), पुल्लिङ्ग; दण्डवाचक-समास: शुद्धः वधः

Entities Mentioned

• khani
• karmānta
• ratna
• sāra

More Details

FAQs

Why is the punishment so severe for theft from mines/workshops?

Mines and state workshops produce strategic, high-value inputs for treasury and war; theft there directly undermines fiscal and military capacity, so Kauṭilya prescribes maximum deterrence.

What does śuddhavadha imply administratively?

A non-discretionary, highest-level penalty meant to protect core state assets and signal zero tolerance.