Sutra 4
Devanagari script
वृत्तिकामा दरिद्रा विधवा प्रगल्भा ब्राह्मण्यन्तःपुरे कृतसत्कारा महामात्रकुलान्यभिगच्छेत् ॥ कZ_०१.१२.०४ ॥
Transliteration
parivrājikā vṛttikāmā daridrā vidhavā pragalbhā brāhmaṇy antaḥpure kṛtasatkārā mahāmātrakulāny abhigacchet
Translation
A wandering female ascetic (parivrājikā)—seeking livelihood, poor, widowed, and bold—having gained respectful reception in the inner quarters as a Brahmin woman, should approach the households of high officials.
Word by Word
वृत्तिकामाa woman seeking livelihood/maintenance
वृत्तिकामा:
TypeNoun (Adjective used substantively)
Rootवृत्ति + काम
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; वृत्तेः कामा = वृत्तिकामा (livelihood-seeking)
दरिद्राa poor woman
दरिद्रा:
TypeNoun (Adjective used substantively)
Rootदरिद्र
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन
विधवाa widow
विधवा:
TypeNoun
Rootविधवा
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन
प्रगल्भाa bold/forward woman
प्रगल्भा:
TypeNoun (Adjective used substantively)
Rootप्रगल्भ
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन
ब्राह्मणीa Brahmin woman
ब्राह्मणी:
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मणी
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन
अन्तःपुरेin the inner palace (harem)
अन्तःपुरे:
TypeNoun
Rootअन्तःपुर
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन
कृतसत्काराone who has been duly received/honoured
कृतसत्कारा:
TypeNoun (Adjective used substantively)
Rootकृत + सत्कार
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; कृतः सत्कारः यस्याः सा
महामात्रकुलानिthe families/households of high officials
महामात्रकुलानि:
TypeNoun
Rootमहामात्र + कुल
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन; महामात्राणां कुलानि
अभिगच्छेत्should approach/visit
अभिगच्छेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि√गम् (गच्छ)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; लट्-धात्वादेश ‘गच्छ’; उपसर्गः अभि-
Entities Mentioned
P
parivrājikāB
brāhmaṇīA
antaḥpuraM
mahāmātraFAQs
It provides socially acceptable mobility and intimacy with households, enabling discreet collection of gossip, loyalties, and vulnerabilities among elites.
Prior acceptance establishes trust and lowers suspicion, increasing access and the credibility of the agent’s presence.