Sutra 34
Devanagari script
नटनर्तकगायनवादकवाग्जीवनकुशीलवप्लवकसौभिका वा पूर्वप्रणिहिताः परमुपतिष्ठेरन् ॥ कZ_०७.१७.३४ ॥
Transliteration
naṭa-nartaka-gāyana-vādaka-vāg-jīvana-kuśīlava-plavaka-saubhikā vā pūrva-praṇihitāḥ param upatiṣṭheran
Translation
Or actors, dancers, singers, instrumentalists, professional orators, entertainers, boatmen/ferrymen, and showmen—previously planted—may approach and ingratiate themselves further.
Word by Word
नटactors; (in context) spies disguised as actors
नट:
TypeNoun
Rootनट
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (समाहार-गणना: ‘नट’ इत्यादयः)
नर्तकdancers; (in context) spies disguised as dancers
नर्तक:
TypeNoun
Rootनर्तक
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन
गायनsingers; (in context) spies disguised as singers
गायन:
TypeNoun
Rootगायन
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन
वादकinstrumentalists/musicians; (in context) spies disguised as players
वादक:
TypeNoun
Rootवादक
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन
वाग्जीवनthose who live by speech (orators/bards/panegyrists); (in context) spies in such guise
वाग्जीवन:
TypeNoun
Rootवाग्जीवन
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन; ‘वाक्’ (स्त्री) + ‘जीवन’ (नपुं) → बहुव्रीहिवत्/कर्मधारय-समासः ‘वाक्-जीवनः’ = वाचा जीवति
कुशीलवkuśīlavas (professional performers/entertainers); (in context) spies disguised as such
कुशीलव:
TypeNoun
Rootकुशीलव
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन
प्लवकswimmers/boatmen (those adept at crossing); (in context) spies disguised as such
प्लवक:
TypeNoun
Rootप्लवक
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन
सौभिकाःsaubhikas (a class of entertainers/jesters/performers); (in context) spies in that guise
सौभिकाः:
TypeNoun
Rootसौभिक
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formअव्यय; विकल्पार्थक
पूर्वpreviously; beforehand
पूर्व:
TypeAdjective
Rootपूर्व
Formअव्ययीभाववत् उपपद-विशेषण; ‘प्रणिहिताः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्
प्रणिहिताःpreviously stationed/assigned (sent in advance)
प्रणिहिताः:
TypeVerb (PPP used adjectivally)
Rootप्र-√निधा
Formकृदन्त (क्त); प्रथमा-बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; ‘प्रणिहित’ = नियुक्त/प्रेषित/स्थापित
परम्closely; fully; in a focused manner
परम्:
TypeAdverb
Rootपरम्
Formअव्ययप्रयोग (नपुंसक-एकवचन-आकारेण क्रियाविशेषणम्)
उपतिष्ठेरन्should attend upon / should present themselves (to serve/approach)
उपतिष्ठेरन्:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-√स्था
Formविधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष; बहुवचन; लट्-आदेशार्थे/विध्यर्थे
Entities Mentioned
P
performers (naṭa, nartaka, gāyana, vādaka, kuśīlava)V
vāg-jīvana (professional speaker)P
plavaka (boatman)S
saubhika (showman)FAQs
High-contact professions (entertainment, speech, transport) can be used to build trust and proximity; they require vetting, monitoring, and controlled access.