History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.299.1

v4.c62.299.1

A dūta is to be distinguished from a *cara* or *cāra* (spy), as done by Kauṭ., Kām. XII. 32, Yāj. I. 328. Kām. XII. 32 says that a dūta is an open (*prakāśa*) spy, while a *cara* is a spy who works in secret. In modern times also 'an ambassador is often nothing more than an honourable spy acting under the protection of the law of nations' (Encyclopædia Britannica on 'espionage'). Kauṭ. devotes four chapters to spies (I. 11-14) and Kām. (XII. 25-49) also deals at great length with them. The Śukranītisāra (I. 334-336) states that the king should learn every day at night from his secret spies the intentions and actions of his subjects and officers, and the opinions of ministers, enemies, soldiers, the members of the assembly, relations and the women in the harem. The *cara* must, according to Kām. XII. 25, possess ability to infer the inner thoughts (of men), must have a good memory, must be soft in speech, have quick gait, be capable of enduring privations and heavy labour, swift in action, ready-witted. Kauṭ. (I.