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

Ang mga kusinero, mga tagapaglingkod na may pananagutan sa inumin, mga tagapag-alaga sa paliligo, mga tagamasahe, mga gumagawa ng higaan, mga tagapag-ayos ng buhok/tagapagtakda ng kasuotan, mga tagapagpaganda, mga tagapagdala ng tubig, at iba pang mga tauhan ng rasada—gayundin ang mga nagkukunwaring kuba, duwende, Kirāta, at mga nagpapanggap na pipi, bingi, mangmang, o bulag; pati mga aktor, mananayaw, mang-aawit, manunugtog, mga nabubuhay sa pagsasalita, at mga tagapaglibang, at mga babae—ay dapat magsagawa ng panloob na paniniktik.

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.