Sutra 13

Devanagari script

स्नापकसंवाहकास्तरकरजकमालाकारकर्म दास्यः प्रसिद्धशौचाः कुर्युः ताभिरधिष्ठिता वा शिल्पिनः ॥ कZ_०१.२१.१३ ॥

Transliteration

snāpakasaṃvāhakāstarakarajakamālākārakarma dāsyaḥ prasiddhaśaucāḥ kuryuḥ tābhir adhiṣṭhitā vā śilpinaḥ ।

Translation

Ang mga tagapag-alaga sa paliligo, mga tagamasahe, mga tagahanda ng higaan, mga tagalaba, at mga gumagawa ng kuwintas ng bulaklak ay dapat na mga babaeng alipin na kilala sa kalinisan; o kaya, ang mga lalaking artesano ay maaari lamang gumawa ng mga gawaing ito sa ilalim ng kanilang pangangasiwa.

Word by Word

स्नापकbath attendant

संवाहकाःmasseurs, attendants who rub/massage

तरकswimmers / ferrying attendants

रजकwashermen

मालाकारgarland-makers

कर्मदास्यःfemale slaves employed for service/work

प्रसिद्धशौचाःof established cleanliness (reputedly clean)

कुर्युःshould do / should perform

ताभिःby them (by those women)

अधिष्ठिताःsupervised / placed under charge

वाor

शिल्पिनःartisans / craftsmen

Entities Mentioned

female servants (dāsī)

artisans (śilpin)

bathing attendants

masseurs

washermen

garland-makers

FAQs

What governance principle is emphasized in staffing here?

Risk-based role assignment: high-proximity roles require vetted personnel; if outsiders are necessary, they operate under trusted supervision.

Why mention ‘known for cleanliness’?

Cleanliness functions as a proxy for discipline, reliability, and reduced likelihood of covert contamination or concealment.