Kautilya's Arthashastra 3.18: Chapter 18 (Section 72): Verbal Injury

3.18.1

vākpāruṣyam upavādaḥ kutsanam abhibhartsanam iti //

CALUMNY, contemptuous talk, or intimidation constitutes defamation.

3.18.2

śarīraprakṛtiśrutavṛttijanapadānāṃ śarīropavāde kāṇakhañjādibhiḥ satye tripaṇo daṇḍaḥ, mithyopavāde ṣaṭpaṇo daṇḍaḥ //

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.

3.18.3

"śobhanākṣimantaḥ" iti kāṇakhañjādīnāṃ stutinindāyāṃ dvādaśapaṇo daṇḍaḥ //

3.18.4

kuṣṭhonmādaklaibyādibhiḥ kutsāyāṃ ca satyamithyāstutinindāsu dvādaśapaṇottarā daṇḍās tulyeṣu //

3.18.5

viśiṣṭeṣu dviguṇāḥ, hīneṣv ardhadaṇḍāḥ, parastrīṣu dviguṇāḥ, pramādamadamohādibhir ardhadaṇḍāḥ //

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.

3.18.6

kuṣṭhonmādayoś cikitsakāḥ saṃnikṛṣṭā pumāṃsaś ca pramāṇaṃ, klībabhāve striyo mūtrapheno 'psu viṣṭhānimajjanaṃ ca //

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.

3.18.7

prakṛtyupavāde brāhmaṇakṣatriyavaiśyaśūdrāntāvasāyinām apareṇa pūrvasya tripaṇottarā daṇḍāḥ, pūrveṇāparasya dvipaṇādharāḥ, kubrāhmaṇādibhiś ca kutsāyām //

If among Bráhmans, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Súdras, and outcastes (antávasáyins), 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 Bráhman' shall also be punished as above.

3.18.8

tena śrutopavādo vāgjīvanānāṃ, kārukuśīlavānāṃ vṛttyupavādaḥ, prājjūṇakagāndhārādīnāṃ ca janapadopavādā vyākhyātāḥ //

The same rules shall apply to calumnies regarding learning (sruta), the profession of buffoons (vágjívana), artisans, or musicians, and relating to nationalities such as Prájjunaka, Gándhára, etc.

3.18.9

yaḥ paraṃ "evaṃ tvāṃ kariṣyāmi" iti karaṇenābhibhartsayed, akaraṇe yas tasya karaṇe daṇḍas tato 'rdhadaṇḍaṃ dadyāt //

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.

3.18.10

aśaktaḥ kopaṃ madaṃ mohaṃ vāpadiśed dvādaśapaṇaṃ daṇḍaṃ dadyāt //

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.

3.18.11

jātavairāśayaḥ śaktaś cāpakartuṃ yāvajjīvikāvasthaṃ dadyāt //

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.

3.18.12

svadeśagrāmayoḥ pūrvaṃ madhyamaṃ jātisaṃghayoḥ /
ākrośād devacaityānām uttamaṃ daṇḍam arhati //E

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.