India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c12.s2.10

c12.s2.10

Punishment both by way of fines and physical torture is mentioned. The former was called *daṇḍa*, as in *sūtra* V.4.2 which regulates the expression for indicating the amount of fine, *e.g.* a fine of two *pāda* coins was mentioned as *dvipadikāṁ daṇḍitaḥ*; similarly *dviśatikāṁ daṇḍitaḥ*, a fine of 200 *kārshāpaṇas*. An accused adjudged for punishment was called *daṇḍya* (V.1.66, *daṇḍam arhati*; cf. Yāska, II.2 referring to one fit for clubbing and called *musalya*). Mutilation of limbs was called *chheda*, and the criminal so punished *chhaidika* (V.1.64). Capital punishment was *śīrsha-chchheda* (V.1.65). Heinous crimes as infanticide and murder (*kumāra-ghāta*, *śīrsha-ghāta*, III.2.51) are mentioned; so also destroying an embryo (*bhrāuṇahatya*, VI.4.174), and killing a Brāhmaṇa (*Brahmahā*, III.2.87). Kauṭilya was in favour of stern administration of criminal justice and mentions *uchchheda* or death (II.13, p. 87) and *chheda* or mutilation of limbs as punishments for serious crimes (*Artha.*, IV.11, p. 229).