I wonder if anyone knowledgeable about (north)western India around the 13th century might have an idea about how the epithet tantrapāla should be understood in that context? I am looking at these two verses from an astrological text:

kasya samīpe candro ravimuthaśilage nṛpatipārśve |
śaninā ca muthaśile ’smin nīcānām ijyamuthaśile ca satām ||
śukreṇa ca yuvatīnāṃ jñena vyavahāripaṇḍitānāṃ ca |
bhaumena <ca> śatrūṇāṃ krūreśānāṃ ca tantrapālānām ||

'In whose company is the moon? If it forms a muthaśila [Ar. muttaṣil, applying aspect] with the sun, [the querent travels] at the side of the king; if it has a muthaśila with Saturn, [at the side] of low people, and if a muthaśila with Jupiter, of good people; with Venus, of women; with Mercury, with merchants and scholars; with Mars, of his enemies, cruel lords and tantrapālas.'

The standard dictionaries failling me, I did a simple web search, which turned up some suggestions; but the present context seems to call for something more warlike, violent and/or sinister than just 'high official' or 'secretary of council'.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts,

Martin Gansten

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