History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.299.2

v4.c62.299.2

11) says¹⁷¹ that spies are those who work in the guise of a *kāpaṭika* (a bold pupil capable of knowing the minds of others), *udāsthita* (a sham ascetic, who has fallen from the real duties of asceticism and is endowed with intelligence and pure character), *gṛhapatika* (a householder who is a cultivator that has not the means to maintain himself, has intelligence and is of pure character), a *vaidehaka* (a trader who cannot maintain himself by trade and is possessed of intelligence and pure character), a *tāpasa* (a spy practising austerities, who has either shaved his head or has matted hair and is desirous to maintain himself), a class-mate or colleague (*sattrin*), a desperate character (*tīkṣṇa*), a poisoner and a female mendicant. The first five of these are called by Kauṭilya five *saṁsthās* (groups or institutions), which should be honoured by the king with awards of money and marks of respect and through which the king is to test the purity of the character of his servants. Kauṭilya says that the spy called *udāsthita* should carry on agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade on land set apart for the purpose, should be supplied with plenty of gold and disciples and should afford to all (sham) ascetics food, clothing and lodging, direct them to detect particular crimes and report. The spy called *tāpasa* was to stay near the capital, to have many pupils, to pretend to eat once in a month or two only a handful of vegetables or grass and eat secretly his favourite dishes.