Dear Martin,

this sounds like a variant expression for avaruddhā (strī) / avaruddhastrī. The latter is explained in Olivelle's Dictionary (2015) as a "mistress or concubine in the exclusive keeping of one individual until his death". Avaruddhā is an old and quite common term for women kept in a harem (avarodha), testified as orodhā also in Pāli texts. Closest to your "dhṛtastrī" seems to come "dhṛtā" ("a concubine"). Evidence to be found in Jaina texts: B. J. Sandesara, Lexicographical Studies in „Jaina Sanskrit“. Journal of the Oriental Institute Baroda 9.4 (1960): 60.
A cheerful read: David Smith, One man and many women: some notes on the harem in mainly ancient and medieval India from sundry perspectives. In: Cracow Indological Studies 14 (2012), S. 1-16.

Best wishes,
Walter

2017-02-13 17:18 GMT+01:00 Martin Gansten via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info>:
In an astrological text I have come across several instances of the compounds dhṛtastrī and dhṛtabhāryā, which are new to me and which I have been unable to find in dictionaries. From the context it seems possible that the phrases could refer to a mistress, quite literally a 'kept woman'. Can anyone confirm or correct this suspicion?

Thanks in advance,
Martin Gansten


______________________________
_________________
INDOLOGY mailing list
INDOLOGY@list.indology.info
indology-owner@list.indology.info (messages to the list's managing committee)
http://listinfo.indology.info (where you can change your list options or unsubscribe)