Sutra 21
Devanagari script
गुप्तपुत्रदारानाकरकर्मान्तेषु वा वासयेत्परेषामास्पदभयात् ॥ कZ_०१.१३.२१ ॥
Transliteration
guptaputradārānākarakarmānteṣu vā vāsayet pareṣām āspadabhayāt
Translation
Wegen der Gefahr, dass Märkte und Werkstätten zu Stützpunkten für andere (feindlichen Einfluss) werden, soll er seine eigenen Agenten mit verdeckter Identität als Söhne und Ehefrauen in Märkten und in Werkstätten unterbringen.
Word by Word
गुप्तsecret, concealed
गुप्त:
TypeAdjective
Rootगुप्
Formविशेषण; पुंलिङ्गे बहुवचन-द्वितीया (पुत्रदारान् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)
पुत्रदारान्sons and wives (family members)
पुत्रदारान्:
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्र; दार
Formपुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; द्वितीया; (पुत्राः च दाराः च) समाहारार्थे/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः; कर्मपदम्
आकरकर्मान्तेषुin mines and in workshops/industrial establishments
आकरकर्मान्तेषु:
TypeNoun
Rootआकर; कर्मान्त
Formपुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; सप्तमी; (आकरेषु च कर्मान्तेषु च) अधिकरणम्
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्
वासयेत्he should lodge/keep (them)
वासयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootवस् (वास)
Formलोट्/विधिलिङ् (optative) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; causative sense in usage: ‘cause to dwell/keep lodged’
परेषाम्of others (of enemies/outsiders)
परेषाम्:
TypePronoun/Adjective (used substantively)
Rootपर
Formषष्ठी; बहुवचनम्; ‘others/enemies’ इत्यर्थे
आस्पदभयात्from fear of (giving) a foothold/base to others
आस्पदभयात्:
TypeNoun
Rootआस्पद; भय
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (आस्पद) + नपुंसकलिङ्ग (भय); एकवचन; पञ्चमी; हेतौ/अपादाने
Entities Mentioned
A
agents (covert)E
enemies/othersM
marketsW
workshopsH
households (cover identities)FAQs
They are high-contact economic nodes where outsiders can build influence networks, recruit informants, and conceal logistics; embedding agents prevents such footholds.
To normalize presence and access—domestic cover identities reduce suspicion while enabling observation and reporting.