Arthashastra · Chapter 75
Book 3, Chapter 18: Defamation
Translated by R. Shamasastry (1915, public domain), 1915. Public domain.
The Sanskrit text and the translation are aligned at chapter level, not sentence by sentence. Sutra numbers follow the critical edition (book.chapter.sutra).
- 3.18.1
वाक्-पारुष्यं उपवादः कुत्सनं अभिभर्त्सनं इति
- 3.18.2
शरीर-प्रकृति-श्रुत-वृत्ति-जन-पदानां शरीर-उपवादे काण-खञ्ज-आदिभिः सत्ये त्रि-पणो दण्डः । मिथ्या-उपवादे षट्-पणो दण्डः
- 3.18.3
"शोभन-अक्षिमन्तः" इति काण-खञ्ज-आदीनां स्तुति-निन्दायां द्वादश-पणो दण्डः
- 3.18.4
कुष्ठ-उन्माद-क्लैब्य-आदिभिः कुत्सायां च सत्य-मिथ्या-स्तुति-निन्दासु द्वादश-पण-उत्तरा दण्डास्तुल्येषु
- 3.18.5
विशिष्टेषु द्वि-गुणाः । हीनेष्वर्ध-दण्डाः । पर-स्त्रीषु द्वि-गुणाः । प्रमाद-मद-मोह-आदिभिरर्ध-दण्डाः
- 3.18.6
कुष्ठ-उन्मादयोश्चिकित्सकाः संनिकृष्टा पुमांसश्च प्रमाणं । क्लीब-भावे स्त्रियो मूत्र-फेनोअप्सु विष्ठा-निमज्जनं च
- 3.18.7
प्रकृत्य्-उपवादे ब्राह्मण-क्षत्रिय-वैश्य-शूद्र-अन्त-अवसायिनां अपरेण पूर्वस्य त्रि-पण-उत्तरा दण्डाः । पूर्वेणापरस्य द्वि-पण-अधराः । कुब्राह्मण-आदिभिश्च कुत्सायां
- 3.18.8
तेन श्रुत-उपवादो वाग्-जीवनानां । कारु-कुशीलवानां वृत्त्य्-उपवादः । प्राज्जूणक-गान्धार-आदीनां च जन-पद-उपवादा व्याख्याताः
- 3.18.9
यः परं "एवं त्वां करिष्यामि" इति करणेनाभिभर्त्सयेद् । अकरणे यस्तस्य करणे दण्डस्ततोअर्ध-दण्डं दद्यात्
- 3.18.10
अशक्तः कोपं मदं मोहं वाअपदिशेद्द्वादश-पणं दण्डं दद्यात्
- 3.18.11
जात-वैर-आशयः शक्तश्चापकर्तुं यावज्-जीविक-अवस्थं दद्यात्
- 3.18.12
स्व-देश-ग्रामयोः पूर्वं मध्यमं जाति-संघयोः आक्रोशाद्देव-चैत्यानां उत्तमं दण्डं अर्हति
CALUMNY, contemptuous talk, or intimidation constitutes defamation.
Among abusive expressions relating to the body, habits, learning, occupation, or nationalities, that of calling a deformed man by his right name such as ‘the blind’, ‘the lame’, etc. shall be punished with a fine of 3 panas; and by false name 6 panas. If the blind, the lame, etc., are insulted with such ironical expressions as ‘a man of beautiful eyes’, ‘a man of beautiful teeth’, etc. the fine shall be 12 panas. Likewise when a person is taunted for leprosy, lunacy, impotency and the like. Abusive expressions in general, no matter whether true, false, or reverse with reference to the abused, shall be punished with fines ranging above 12 panas, in the case of persons of equal rank.
If persons abused happen to be of superior rank, the amount of the fines shall be doubled; if of lower rank, it shall be halved. For calumniating the wives of others, the amount of the fines shall be doubled.
If abuse is due to carelessness, intoxication, or loss of sense, etc., the fines shall be halved.
As to the reality of leprosy and lunacy, physicians or
neighbours shall be authorities.
As to the reality of impotency, women, the scum of urine, or the low specific gravity of faeces in water (the sinking of faeces in water) shall furnish the necessary evidence.
(Speaking ill of habits.)
If among Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Stidras, and outcastes (antdvasdyins), any one of a lower caste abuses the habits of one of a higher caste, the fines imposed shall increase from 3 panas upwards (commencing from the lowest caste). If any one of a higher caste abuses one of a lower caste, fines imposed shall decrease from 2 panas.
Contemptuous expressions such as 'a bad Brdhman' shall also be punished as above.
The same rules shall apply to calumnies regarding learning (sruta), the profession of buffoons (vdgjivana), artisans, or musicians, and relating to nationalities such as Prdjjunaka, Gadndhara, etc.
If a person intimidates another by using such expressions as ‘I shall render thee thus’, the bravado shall be punished with half as much fine as will be levied on him who actually does so.
If a person, being unable to carry his threat into effect, pleads provocation, intoxication, or loss of sense as his excuse, he shall be fined 12 panas.
If a person capable to do harm and under the influence of
enmity intimidates another, he shall be compelled to give life-long security for the well-being of the intimidated.
Defamation of one's own nation or village shall be punished with the first amercement; that of one's own caste or assembly with the middlemost; and that of gods or temples (chaitya) with the highest amercement.