Chapter 2.27 turns courtesans into a protected, audited, and priced state asset—welfare-by-design to secure revenue and urban order. It reframes gaṇikās from private vice into a fiscal-and-police instrument of the state. It sets recruitment standards, ranks, and standardized fees to make income predictable, and requires registers and audits of earnings and expenditures to prevent leakage and fraud. It penalizes coercion, confinement, expulsion, or disfigurement as offenses that harm state revenue and stability. Through inheritance/maintenance rules and a default royal claim, it keeps property within the legal-fiscal net, strengthening Kośa (steady urban revenue) and Durga (controlled public entertainment, mobility, and violence).
Sutra 1
गणिकाध्यक्षो गणिकान्वयामगणिकान्वयां वा रूपयौवनशिल्पसम्पन्नां सहस्रेण गणिकां कारयेत्कुटुम्बार्धेन प्रतिगणिकाम् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.०१ ॥
The Superintendent of Courtesans shall, for a fee of one thousand, register as a courtesan a woman—whether from a courtesan lineage or not—who is endowed with beauty, youth, and artistic skill; and shall similarly register each assistant/secondary courtesan for half (that amount).
Sutra 2
निष्पतिताप्रेतयोर्दुहिता भगिनी वा कुटुम्बं भरेत माता वा प्रतिगणिकां स्थापयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.०२ ॥
If a courtesan has absconded or died, her daughter or sister shall maintain the household; or the mother shall appoint a secondary courtesan (to sustain the establishment).
Sutra 3
तासामभावे राजा हरेत् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.०३ ॥
In their absence, the king shall take (the property/estate).
Sutra 4
सौभाग्यालंकारवृद्ध्या सहस्रेण वारं कनिष्ठं मध्यममुत्तमं वारोपयेत् छत्रभृङ्गारव्यजनशिबिकापीठिकारथेषु च विशेषार्थम् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.०४ ॥
With increase in attractiveness and adornment, the fee per engagement shall be raised by one thousand, classifying it as lower, middle, or superior; and special charges may apply for distinctions such as parasol, ornamented display, fan-attendants, palanquin, seat, and carriage.
Sutra 5
सौभाग्यभङ्गे मातृकां कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.०५ ॥
If her attractiveness is impaired, provision shall be made for her maintenance (a support arrangement).
Sutra 6
निष्क्रयश्चतुर्विंशतिसाहस्रो गणिकायाः द्वादशसाहस्रो गणिकापुत्रस्य ॥ कZ_०२.२७.०६ ॥
The redemption (buy-out) price is twenty-four thousand for a courtesan, and twelve thousand for a courtesan’s son.
Sutra 7
अष्टवर्षात्प्रभृति राज्ञः कुशीलवकर्म कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.०७ ॥
From the age of eight onward, (the courtesan’s child) shall perform the work of a kuśīlava (performer/entertainer) for the king.
Sutra 8
गणिकादासी भग्नभोगा कोष्ठागारे महानसे वा कर्म कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.०८ ॥
A courtesan’s maidservant, when her capacity for sexual service is broken/ended, shall work in the storehouse or in the royal kitchen.
Sutra 9
अविशन्ती सपादपणमवरुद्धा मासवेतनं दद्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.०९ ॥
If she does not admit (a client), she shall pay a fine of one-and-a-quarter paṇas; if she keeps him detained/blocked (after accepting), she shall refund/give the monthly wage/fee.
Sutra 10
भोगं दायमायं व्ययमायतिं च गणिकाया निबन्धयेत् अतिव्ययकर्म च वारयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.१० ॥
He should record the courtesan’s consumption/benefits, gifts/inheritance, income, expenditure, and savings/accumulations; and he should restrain acts of excessive spending.
Sutra 11
मातृहस्तादन्यत्र अभरणन्यासे सपादचतुष्पणो दण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.११ ॥
For depositing/pledging ornaments anywhere other than in the mother’s custody, the fine is four-and-a-quarter paṇas.
Sutra 12
स्वापतेयं विक्रयमाधानं वा नयन्त्याः सपादपञ्चाशत्पणः पणोऽर्धपणच्छेदने ॥ कZ_०२.२७.१२ ॥
If she takes her own property for sale or pledge, the fine is fifty-and-a-quarter paṇas; for (misappropriating/withholding) even half a paṇa, the penalty applies proportionally (beginning at half-paṇa).
Sutra 13
अकामायाः कुमार्या वा साहसे उत्तमो दण्डः सकामायाः पूर्वः साहसदण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.१३ ॥
In a sexual assault against an unwilling woman or a maiden, the highest assault-penalty applies; if she is consenting, the first (lowest grade) assault-penalty applies.
Sutra 14
गणिकामकामां रुन्धतो निष्पातयतो वा व्रणविदारणेन वा रूपं उपघ्नतः सहस्रं दण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.१४ ॥
For confining an unwilling courtesan, expelling/throwing her out, or injuring/disfiguring her appearance by wounding/tearing, the fine is one thousand (paṇas).
Sutra 15
स्थान्विशेषेण वा दण्डवृद्धिः आनिष्क्रयद्विगुणात् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.१५ ॥
Depending on the special nature of the place, the penalty may be increased—up to twice the redemption/buyout amount.
Sutra 16
प्राप्ताधिकारं गणिकां घतयतो निष्क्रयत्रिगुणो दण्डः ॥ ॥
For killing a courtesan who has obtained official standing/authorization, the penalty is three times the redemption/buyout amount.
Sutra 17
मातृकादुहितृकारूपदासीनां घाते उत्तमः साहसदण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.१७ ॥
For killing a mother, daughter, a ‘rūpa’-woman (beauty/performer class), or a female slave, the highest grade of assault-penalty applies.
Sutra 18
सर्वत्र प्रथमेऽपराधे प्रथमः द्वितीये द्विगुणः तृतीये त्रिगुणः चतुर्थे यथाकामी स्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.१८ ॥
Everywhere, for a first offence the first-grade penalty applies; for the second, it is doubled; for the third, tripled; for the fourth, punishment may be imposed at discretion as deemed fit.
Sutra 19
राजाज्ञया पुरुषमनभिगच्छन्ती गणिका शिफासहस्रं लभेएत पञ्चसहस्रं वा दण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.१९ ॥
If a courtesan, despite the king’s order, does not go to a man (summoned/assigned), she shall receive one thousand lashes; or she shall be fined five thousand.
Sutra 20
भोगं गृहीत्वा द्विषत्या भोगद्विगुणो दण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२० ॥
If she takes the fee/consideration and then (defaults), the penalty is twice the fee, with a minimum of two hundred.
Sutra 21
वसतिभोगापहारे भोगमष्टगुणं दद्यादन्यत्र व्याधिपुरुषदोषेभ्यः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२१ ॥
For the wrongful taking/withholding of lodging and the paid enjoyment (i.e., service/fee), she shall pay eight times the fee—except where due to illness or the man’s fault.
Sutra 22
पुरुषं घ्नत्याश्चिताप्रतापेऽप्सु प्रवेशनं वा ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२२ ॥
If she kills a man, (the punishment is) burning on a pyre; or drowning (immersion into water).
Sutra 23
गणिकाभरणमर्थं भोगं वापहरतोऽष्टगुणो दण्डः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२३ ॥
Whoever steals a courtesan’s ornaments, money, or her fee shall be punished with a fine eight times the value.
Sutra 24
गणिका भोगमायतिं पुरुषं च निवेदयेत् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२४ ॥
A courtesan shall report the fee received and the identity/details of the man.
Sutra 25
एतेन नटनर्तकगायनवादकवाग्जीवनकुशीलवप्लवकसौभिकचारणानां स्त्रीव्यवहारिणां स्त्रियो गूढाजीवाश्च व्याख्याताः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२५ ॥
By the same rules are also covered the women of actors, dancers, singers, musicians, professional speakers/reciters, stage-performers, boatmen/ferrymen, jugglers/illusionists, and bards—women engaged in dealings with men—and also those who earn by concealed means (covert livelihoods).
Sutra 26
तेषां तूर्यमागन्तुकं पञ्चपणं प्रेक्षावेतनं दद्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२६ ॥
For them, an incoming/guest performance (music/entertainment) shall be paid a viewing-fee of five paṇas.
Sutra 27
रूपाजीवा भोगद्वयगुणं मासं दद्युः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२७ ॥
Those who live by beauty/appearance (rūpājīvas) shall pay monthly an amount equal to twice the fee.
Sutra 28
गीतवाद्यपाठ्यनृत्यनाट्याक्षरचित्रवीणावेणुमृदङ्गपरचित्तज्ञानगन्धमाल्यसम्यूहनसंवादनसंवाहनवैशिककलाज्ञानानि गणिका दासी रङ्गोपजीविनीश्च ग्राहयतो राजमण्डलादाजीवं कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२८ ॥
One who teaches (or has taught) to a courtesan, a female servant, or a stage-performer the skills of singing, instrumental music, recitation, dance, drama, letters, painting, vīṇā, flute, drum, knowledge of others’ minds, perfumes, garlands, arranging/assembling (decorations), conversation, massage/attendant service, and erotic arts—shall earn a livelihood from the royal establishment (i.e., be maintained/paid by the state).
Sutra 29
गणिकापुत्रान् रङ्गोपजीविनां च मुख्यान्निष्पादयेयुः सर्वतालावचराणां च ॥ कZ_०२.२७.२९ ॥
He should recruit/produce (i.e., enlist and train) the sons of courtesans, the leading members among those who live by stage-performances, and others skilled in all kinds of rhythmic/performing arts, for state purposes.
Sutra 30
चारघातप्रमादार्थं प्रयोज्या बन्धुवाहनाः ॥ कZ_०२.२७.३०च्द् ॥
To prevent the killing of spies and to avoid operational lapses, escorts/transport under the cover of ‘relatives’ should be employed.
Urban welfare through regulated livelihoods, reduced coercion/violence against registered women, predictable maintenance of dependents, and stable city-order; simultaneously, fiscal welfare via audited high-value income streams and prevention of asset dissipation.
Fines for unauthorized jewelry deposits (sapāda-catuṣpaṇa), for moving/selling/pledging savings (sapāda-pañcāśatpaṇa; plus cutting penalties for partial amounts), graded sāhasa penalties for sexual violence (uttama for unwilling/virgin; pūrva for willing), a 1000-paṇa fine for coercing/confining/expelling or disfiguring a gaṇikā, and enhanced penalties by location up to twice the amount tied to the unpaid redemption value (ā-niṣkraya-dviguṇa).