Chapter 6.1 - Regarding the behaviors of courtesans

The sixth adhikarana of Kamasutra deals with courtesans. We find that in ancient India much importance and respect was given to the harlots. They secured a commendable place in the society. Sir Richard F. Burton states- "The details of the domestic and social life of the early Hindoos would not be complete without mention of the courtesan... #1 Vatsyayana has discussed the behaviour, the duties and the types of the courtesans in detail through six adhyayas. Vatsyayana at the beginning of this adhikarana states- "By having intercourse with men, courtesans obtain sexual pleasure, as well as their own maintenance. When a courtesan takes up with a man from love the action is natural; but when she resorts to him for the purpose of getting money, her action is artificial or forced. Even in the latter case, however, she should conduct herself as if 1. Kamasutra. Trans. Richard F.Burton and F.F. Arbuthnot, Orient Paperbacks, New Delhi, 1977.

$ her love were indeed natural, because men repose their confidence on those women who apparently love them. In making known her love to the man, she should show an entire freedom from avarice and for the sake of her future credit, she should abstain from acquiring money from him by unlawful means. 2 347 The depiction of harlots in Sanskrit literature shows that she was after money, she was greedy, she was cunning and shrewd. She was showing her artificial love towards rich people only. Courtesans like Vasantasena, who were interested in virtues, are rare in the literature. Hence most of the poets censure the prostitutes. One poet imagines a whore to be a lust flame burning with the help of the wood of beauty, in which passionate people offer their money and youth. Another poet describes 3 2. vaisyanam purusa dhime rativrttisca sargat | ratitah pravartanam svabhavikam krttimamarthartham | tadapi svabhavikavadrupayet | kamaparasu hi pumsa visvasayogat | alubdhatam ca khyapayet tasya nidarsanartham | na canupayenarthansadhayedayati samraksanartham | ka . su . 6. 1. 16. 3. vesyasau madanajvala rupendhanasamedhita | kamibhiryatra hryante yauvanani dhanani ca || su . ra. bham . pr . 355-1.

4 her in the same sense with different words. Ramapanivada says- "The harlots like only rich people, though they may be squint by eye, though they have pale face due to old age, though they may be lame by legs, though they have wounded body, bald head, flat nose and though 5 they may be ascetics or learned men. 348 The Kamasutra says- "A courtesan, well dressed and wearing her ornaments, should sit or stand at the door of her house and without exposing herself too much, should look on the public road, so as to be seen by the passers "6 by, she being like an object on view for sale. Nalla 4. ayam ca suratajvalah kamagnih pranayendhanah | naranam catra huyante yauvanani dhanani ca || mrccha . 4. | | . 5. bhavatvaksna kano bhavatu ca jarasuskavadanah pada kha, jo vastu vrananicitagatro bhavatu va | jati va mundi va bhavatu kharana va kim nu gira yato vittapattih sa khalu ganikanam priyatamah || madana . 45. Madanaketucarita of Ramapanivada Ed. R.K. Narayana Pillai, Pub. The Curator, The University Manuscripts Library, Trivendram, 1948. 6. nityamalamkarayogini rajamargavalokini drsyamana na cativivrta tisthet panyatadharmatvat | ka . su . 6.1.7.

Dixit, being influenced by this sutra, in the Srigarasarvasva-Bhana describes the activities of whores who were standing near the door thus- "They are busy in spitting the chewed Tambula; they are tying their braids of hairs; their hands are busy in restraining the knot of their garments; they are placing their upper garment repeatedly on their breasts as it is falling down again and again. ,, 7 349 Vatsyayana directs a harlot to form friendships with the following people, who help in danger, who are able to protect her and who will become her assistants in extending her business: "the guards of the town or the police, the officers of the courts of justice, astrologers, powerful men, learned men, teachers of the arts, Pitha mardas, vitas, Vidusakas, flower sellers, perfumers, vendors of spirits, washermen, barbers and beggers. A 8 7. tambalodagaranodyata pariग़ladammilla mallisara nivisamyamane nikamamalasam vyaparayantikaram | vaksojacyuta muttariya sicayam sthane punastanvati prasade pavamanaseva napara bala samalaksyate || . sarvasva . 51. 8. te tvaraksaka purusa dharmadhikaranastha daivajna vikrantah surah samanavidyah kalagrahinah pithamardavitavidusaka- malakara gandhika saundika rajaka napita bhiksukaste ca te ca karyayogat | ka . su . 6.1.9.

All these persons are fit to help a courtesan in one "way or another. Vasantasena in the Mrcchakatika faces many troubles and dangers as she is not ready to make friendship with Sakara, who is an officer and who is a distant relative of the king. Hence Kamasutra directs a courtesan to take all officers into confidence. 350 The Kamasutra advises that a harlot should attract the following persons to gain money a man of independent income; a young man; a rich man; one who has secured his livelihood in the same place; a man who holds places of authority under the king; a man who has inherited zhan wealth; a man of competition; a man possessed of unfailing sources of income; a man who considers own trumpet; one who is an eunuch, but wishes to be thought of as man; one who hates his equal; one who is naturally liberal; one who has influence with the king or his ministers; one who is a fatalist; one who does not attach much importance to money; one who disobeys the orders of the elders one upon whom the members of his caste keep an eye; a man of property; the only son; an ascetic who is internally 9 troubled with desire; a brave man; a physician. 9. kevalarthastvami gamyah svatantrah purve vayasi vartamanah, vittavan, aparodhavrttih, adhikaranavan, akrcchradhigata vistah,

351 In the Kuttanimata, Vikarala an old procurese blames Malati, a young harlot who discards the wealthy people as follows- "The son of Bhattananda, who secured wealth without any difficulty, who is humble, who is liberal and who is like a treasury, is left by you due to misfortune. You have sent out Kesavasvami, who has lost his skill due to bad habits, who takes pleasure in making gifts and who 11 hates his wife. Why have you disregarded with foolishness the tax officer, who is interested in you, who is liberal by birth and who has no fear for the king?12 10 samgharsavanu, santatayah, subhagamani, slaghanakah, pandakasca pumsabdarthi, samanaspardhi, svabhavatastyagi, rajani mahamatre vasidhdah, vaivapramanah, vittavamani, gurunam sasanatigah, sajatanam laksyabhutah savittah, ekaputrah, ligi pracchannakamah surah vaisaceti | ka . tu .6.1.10. 10. aklesopanatadhanah premapraddavo nirargalatyagah | bhattanandasya suto nidhibhuto bhavyaya tvaya tyaktah || kuttani . 529. 11. vyasanopahataviveko danaikaratih svadaravidvesi | mamaviganayya mudhe nirbhatsita eva kesavasvami || kuttani . 530. 12. aganitarajapayo vicchinnayah svabhavatastyagi | kimupeksito'nurakto vamadhiya lukikadhyaksah || kuttani . 531.

Why have you disliked that Prabhurata who is the only son 13 of an old and sick father? You have lost Vasudeva, who entered your house with all gifts, by not giving him 14 respect. You have faced a heavy loss by not asking the news about that man who was ready to give more money 15 due to competition. You have made enmity with that 16 studied the science of Love. bull-man who is acquainted with allarts and who has Further Vikarala instigates Malati to draw attention of those men who are independent, 17 18 who have unfailing sources of wealth, 352 13. pitureka eva putrascaturthavayaso gadabhibhutasya | dravinavatah prabhurato nirakrto bhurikamaya so spi || kuttani . 532. 14. svakarena parityakta tvaya vibhutih karomi kim papa | sarvambharanopanatam vasudevamanadarena pasyantya || kuttani . 533. 15. purusantarasamgharsa protsaditacittavrttiranapeksam | 1 vasu visrjati yo rabhasattasya na varta tvaya prsta || kuttani . 534. 16. citradikalakusalah ' smarasastravicaksano vrsaprakrtih | upakurvannapi sarvo vidvesigane tvaya ksiptah || kuttani . 535. 17. candravatimabharanam dattam madhusudanasya putrena | 18. pasyanti vibhranamayi ragina kim na hita'si || kuttani . 536. gramotpattirosa pravisanti simharajaviniyogat | manmathasenavasa laghayati te rupasaubhagyam || kuttani . 537.

353 who are proud of their wealth 19 who is an ascetic, 20 21 22 who are officers and who are impotent. Here all the persons mentioned by Vikarala to Malati for money are stated by Vatsyayana in his aphorisms. Damodaragupta has exhibited his knowledge of sexology at every step. Hence A.B. Keith also remarks that- "with modern examples before us it is not surprising to find that Damodaragupta has lavished on this work the resources acquired by a prolonged study of the Kamasutra."