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MINISTRY OF CULTU aura krti mamtralaya GOVERNMENT OF OF INDIA 471739 sarakara 167 The objects of human life are, according to Hindu writers, fourfold, including 1 st, duty or dharma; 2 nd, wealth or artha economics; 3 rd, enjoyment, kama, and 4 th, salvation or moksha. On each of these subjects there were at one time, it would eem, several text-books in Sanskrit, but they are not all forthcoming now. On the first subject the Aphorisms of Jaimini constitute the leading text. On the second, a text is attributed to Sukra Acharya, but it nowhere has yet been met with. On the third, the kama-sutra is the only text now known, but its author refers to seven different writers who preceded him. The fourth forms the theme of five out of the six leading systems of philosophy, as also of several minor ones. Of enjoyment in its grossest sense women form the most important object, and the text therefore devotes an unduly large part of it to sexual love, and hence it is that in describing the work, it is usual to class it among erotic works. Kama in its most comprehensive sense, however, includes everything that promotes the gratification of the five senses of hearing, feeling, seeing, tasting and smelling, and Vatsayana refers to all these. He begins with education in early life, giving brief notes about the 14 sciences and the 64 arts recognised by the Hindus. Then he adverts to housekeeping, furniture and household decorations, to friends, associates and companions, to occupations and ornaments, as well as conduct towards women. This explanation is necessary with reference to what has been said on page 98 of volume I, on the subject. Vatsyayana is supposed to have lived over two thousand years ago, and the oldest commentary on the Nyaya aphorisms is attributed to him. Beginning. (ekacikrtasutrabhasyasya prarambhavakyam yatha ) sastre prakrtatvat tat sama- yavabodhakebhyatha cabhyasatsambandhat| prajapatirddhi prajah khadda tasam citinibandhanam civargesa sadhanamadhyayanam satasahasenace provaca | tasyaikadesam manuh khayambhuvo dharmadhikarika prthaka cakara | drhaspatirathadhikarikam | mahadevanucaraca nandi sahasrenadhyayanam prthak kamasva provaca | sarvvamalpena granthena kamastramidam pranitavan vatsyayanah | tikayah prarambhavakya yatha, - vatsyayaniyam kila kamasucam prastavitam kaisidihanyathaiva | tasmadvisasye jayamangalakhyam tikamadam sarvvavidam pranamya || SL