Sutra 25

Devanagari script

तेषामसम्भाषायां याचकमत्तोन्मत्तसुप्तप्रलापैः पुण्यस्थानदेवगृहचित्रलेख्यसंज्ञाभिर्वा चारमुपलभेत ॥ कZ_०१.१६.२५ ॥

Transliteration

teṣām asambhāṣāyāṃ yācaka-matta-unmatta-supta-pralāpaiḥ puṇyasthāna-devagṛha-citralekhya-saṃjñābhir vā cāram upalabheta.

Translation

When direct conversation with them is not possible, one should obtain intelligence through the ramblings of beggars, drunkards, madmen, and sleepers (talking in sleep), or through agreed signs/messages placed at holy sites, temples, and in paintings/writings.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them / their
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (Gen. pl.), पुं./नपुं. (contextual)

• असम्भाषायाम्: in the state of not conversing / when there is no conversation
• Type: Noun (action noun)
• Root: सम्-भाष्
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वकं भाववाचकं; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Loc. sg.)

• याचक: a beggar / petitioner
• Type: Noun
• Root: याच्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (as first member in dvandva-like list)

• मत्त: an intoxicated person
• Type: Adjective (used as noun)
• Root: मद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (list-member)

• उन्मत्त: a madman / deranged person
• Type: Adjective (used as noun)
• Root: उन्-√मद्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (list-member)

• सुप्त: a sleeping person
• Type: Adjective (used as noun)
• Root: स्वप्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (list-member)

• प्रलापैः: by ramblings / incoherent talk
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र-लप्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instr. pl.)

• पुण्यस्थान: sacred places / holy sites
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + स्थान
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (as compound-member in instr. pl. list)

• देवगृह: temple-houses / shrines
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + गृह
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (as compound-member in instr. pl. list)

• चित्रलेख्य: pictures and writings / drawings (inscriptions)
• Type: Noun/Adjective (used as noun)
• Root: चित्र + लेख्य
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (as compound-member in instr. pl. list)

• संज्ञाभिः: by signs / signals / agreed indications
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instr. pl.)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्

• चारम्: a spy / secret agent (or spy-information)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चार
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Acc. sg.)

• उपलभेत: he should find out / detect / obtain
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-लभ्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातुः: √लभ् (1P) उपसर्गः उप-

Entities Mentioned

• agents
• targets (prakṛtis)
• beggars
• drunkards
• madmen
• sleep-talkers
• holy sites
• temples

More Details

FAQs

Why use marginal figures like beggars or drunkards?

They attract little suspicion, move freely, and can overhear or elicit information while appearing socially irrelevant.

What modern concept parallels ‘saṃjñā’ at temples/paintings?

Coded signals and dead-drop communication embedded in public or semi-public spaces.