Sutra 7

Devanagari script

अष्टवर्षात्प्रभृति राज्ञः कुशीलवकर्म कुर्यात् ॥ कZ_०२.२७.०७ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭavarṣāt prabhṛti rājñaḥ kuśīlava-karma kuryāt

Translation

From the age of eight onward, (the courtesan’s child) shall perform the work of a kuśīlava (performer/entertainer) for the king.

Word by Word

• अष्टवर्षात्: from (the age of) eight years onward
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन्/वर्ष
• Form: पुं/नपुं; एकवचन; पञ्चमी (अपादान/काल-आरम्भार्थे) — ‘अष्टवर्ष’ + ‘-आत्’

• प्रभृति: onwards; beginning from
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रभृति
• Form: अव्यय; ‘since, from … onwards’ (काल-आरम्भे)

• राज्ञः: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: पुं; एकवचन; षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध)

• कुशीलवकर्म: the occupation of a kuśīlava (performer)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशीलव/कर्मन्
• Form: नपुंसक; एकवचन; द्वितीया (कर्म) — ‘कुशीलवस्य कर्म’ = कुशीलवकर्म

• कुर्यात्: should do; should undertake
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; लट्-आदेशे विधि — ‘should do/should undertake’

Entities Mentioned

• king/state
• kuśīlava (performer)
• child (implicit)

More Details

FAQs

Why would the state direct children into court performance roles?

It converts dependent populations into trained service providers for courtly functions (ceremony, propaganda, diplomacy), while maintaining oversight and livelihood.