India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c12.s1.31

c12.s1.31

*TOILET ATTENDANTS*—Both male and female attendants are mentioned in connection with king’s toilet, e.g. *pariṣhechaka*, *snāpaka*, *utsādaka*, *udvartaka* (*Yājakādi gaṇa*, II.2. 9; VI.2.151); *pralepikā*, *vilepikā*, *anulepikā* (*Mahishyādi gaṇa*, IV.4.48). The allowances (*dharmya*) paid to the latter were called after them *prālepika*, *vailepika* and *ānulepika* respectively. Patañjali makes a special reference to *vailepika* as a customary payment to a female attendant who applied unguents (VI.3.37; III. 156). The expression *snātānulipta* shows that *anulepa* denoted unguents applied after bath (*Arth.*, IV.6; p.217). The *Kalpasūtra* refers to these terms in describing the king’s toilet (*Kalpasūtra*, S.B.E., pp. 242-3).