Vinayaadhikaarika Adhyaya 12 Sutra 9 - Arthashastra | English | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 9

Devanagari script

सूदारालिकस्नापकसंवाहकास्तरककल्पकप्रसाधकोदकपरिचारका रसदाः कुब्जवामनकिरातमूकबधिरजडान्धच्छद्मानो नटनर्तकगायनवादकवाग्जीवनकुशीलवाः स्त्रियश्चाभ्यन्तरं चारं विद्युः ॥ कZ_०१.१२.०९ ॥

Transliteration

sūdārālikasnāpakasaṃvāhakāstarakakalpakaprasādhakodakaparicārakā rasadāḥ kubjavāmanakirātamūkabadhirajaḍāndhacchadmāno naṭanartakagāyanavādakavāgjīvanakuśīlavāḥ striyaś cābhyantaraṃ cāraṃ vidyuḥ

Translation

Cooks, servants in charge of drink, bath attendants, masseurs, bedding-makers, hairdressers/costume-setters, beautifiers, water-bearers, and other rasada-operatives—as well as disguised hunchbacks, dwarfs, Kirātas, and persons feigning muteness, deafness, stupidity, or blindness; also actors, dancers, singers, instrumentalists, professional talkers, and entertainers, and women—should conduct internal intelligence.

Word by Word

सूदारालिकस्नापकसंवाहकास्तरककल्पकप्रसाधकोदकपरिचारकाःcooks, stewards, bath-attendants, masseurs, bed-makers, barbers/costumers, dressers, and water-attendants

रसदाःproviders/servers of delicacies and drinks

कुब्जवामनकिरातमूकबधिरजडान्धच्छद्मानःhunchbacks, dwarfs, Kirātas, mutes, deaf persons, dull-witted, blind persons, and those in disguise

नटactors

नर्तकdancers

गायनsingers

वादकinstrumentalists/musicians

वाग्जीवनthose who live by speech (bards, panegyrists, storytellers, etc.)

कुशीलवाःprofessional performers/players (itinerant entertainers)

स्त्रियःwomen (female attendants/agents)

चand

अभ्यन्तरम्the inner quarters (harem/interior)

चारम्spy/espionage (the secret agent system)

विद्युःshould know / should be aware (i.e., be trained/assigned)

Entities Mentioned

rasadāḥ

domestic staff roles

performers

women

FAQs

Why are entertainers and domestic staff emphasized for ‘ābhyantara cāra’?

They are present in private spaces, observe confidential conversations, and can map relationships, vices, and plots with minimal suspicion.

What is the intent behind using feigned disabilities as disguise?

To lower perceived threat and scrutiny while enabling observation; it is a deception technique to gain proximity and overhear sensitive matters.