Adhyakshaprachara Adhyaya 25 Sutra 15 - Arthashastra | Lao | Vedapath

Kautilya

Sutra 15

Devanagari script

वणिजश्स्तु संवृतेषु कक्ष्याविभागेषु स्वदासीभिः पेशलरूपाभिरागन्तूनां वास्तव्यानां चार्यरूपाणां मत्तसुप्तानां भावं विद्युः ॥ कZ_०२.२५.१५ ॥

Transliteration

vaṇijaśstu saṃvṛteṣu kakṣyāvibhāgeṣu svadāsībhiḥ peśalarūpābhir āgantūnāṃ vāstavyānāṃ cāryarūpāṇāṃ mattasuptānāṃ bhāvaṃ vidyuḥ

Translation

ພໍ່ຄ້າທັງຫຼາຍ ໃນຫ້ອງທີ່ປິດມິດ ແລະແບ່ງຊ່ອງໄວ້, ຄວນໃຫ້ນາງຮັບໃຊ້ຂອງຕົນທີ່ມີຮູບລັກສະນະນ່າພໍໃຈ ຊ່ວຍສືບຮູ້ສະພາບ/ເຈດຕະນາຂອງຜູ້ມາໃໝ່, ຜູ້ອາໄສ, ແລະຜູ້ທີ່ເຄື່ອນໄຫວໂດຍປອມຕົວ—ໂດຍສະເພາະຜູ້ທີ່ເມົາ ຫຼືຜູ້ທີ່ຫຼັບຢູ່.

Word by Word

वणिजःmerchants/traders

तुbut/indeed

संवृतेषुin closed/covered (places)

कक्ष्या-विभागेषुin the partitioned rooms/compartments

स्व-दासीभिःby their own maidservants

पेशल-रूपाभिः(maidservants) of attractive/pleasing appearance

आगन्तूनाम्of visitors/arrivals

वास्तव्यानाम्of those who are to stay (lodgers)

चand

चार्य-रूपाणाम्of those having the guise of teachers/ascetics

मत्त-सुप्तानाम्of the intoxicated and the sleeping

भावम्the condition/state (intent/disposition)

विद्युःshould know/ascertain

Entities Mentioned

merchants (vaṇij)

maidservants (dāsī)

newcomers

residents

disguised movers/agents

intoxicated/sleeping persons

FAQs

Why does the text place intelligence collection inside enclosed, partitioned rooms?

Controlled spaces reduce eavesdropping risk, allow discreet observation, and enable systematic screening of patrons for threats, fraud, or covert activity.

What is the administrative intent behind using maidservants of ‘pleasing appearance’?

They function as unobtrusive human sensors—eliciting conversation, observing behavior, and identifying disguised actors without provoking suspicion.