Arthashastra — Adhyakshaprachara, Sutra 29

Devanagari script

गणिकापुत्रान् रङ्गोपजीविनां च मुख्यान्निष्पादयेयुः सर्वतालावचराणां च ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२९ ॥

Transliteration

gaṇikāputrān raṅgopajīvināṃ ca mukhyān niṣpādayeyuḥ sarvatālāvacarāṇāṃ ca

Translation

ৰাজকাৰ্যৰ বাবে গণিকাৰ পুত্ৰসকলক, মঞ্চ-প্ৰদৰ্শনৰ জৰিয়তে জীৱিকা কৰা লোকসকলৰ মাজৰ মুখ্যসকলক, আৰু সকলো ধৰণৰ তাল-লয়/প্ৰদৰ্শন-কলা-নিপুণ অন্যসকলক নিয়োগ কৰি প্ৰশিক্ষণ দিব।

Word by Word

• गणिकापुत्रान्: sons of courtesans
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; (गणिकायाः पुत्राः)

• रङ्गोपजीविनाम्: of those who make their living from the stage/arena (performers)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपजीविन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समूहवाचक); षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; (रङ्गम् उपजीवन्ति ये)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• मुख्यान्: the principal/leading ones
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; विशेषण (गणिकापुत्रान्/… के)

• निष्पादयेयुः: they should appoint/produce/arrange (i.e., have them made ready)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√पद् (निष्पादयति)
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष; बहुवचन; causative (णिच्) प्रयोग; अर्थ: ‘करवाएँ/उत्पन्न करें/नियुक्त करें’

• सर्वतालावचराणाम्: of all subordinate attendants/underlings across all ‘tāla’ units
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवचर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; (सर्वेषु तालेषु अवचराः = सर्वताल-परिचर/अधीनस्थ)

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

Entities Mentioned

• gaṇikāputra (sons of courtesans)
• raṅgopajīvin (stage-performers)
• tāla-skilled performers

More Details

FAQs

Why does the text emphasize courtesans’ sons and stage-performers as recruits?

They have wide social access, mobility, and plausible cover identities, making them useful for discreet observation, messaging, and infiltration.

What administrative intent is implied by 'niṣpādayeyuḥ' here?

Not merely hiring, but systematically raising/training a cadre—suggesting an organized pipeline for covert service.