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

Juru masak, pelayan yang bertugas atas minuman, petugas pemandian, pemijat, pembuat alas tidur, penata rambut/penata kostum, perias, pembawa air, dan para petugas logistik lainnya; juga orang-orang yang menyamar sebagai bungkuk, kerdil, Kirāta, serta mereka yang berpura-pura bisu, tuli, dungu, atau buta; juga aktor, penari, penyanyi, pemain alat musik, pembicara profesional, penghibur, dan para perempuan—hendaknya menjalankan intelijen internal.

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.