By having intercourse with men courtesans obtain sexual pleasure, as well as their own maintenance. Now 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 later case, however, she should conduct herself as if her love were indeed natural, because men repose their confidence in 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.
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-by, she being like an object on view for sale. She should form friendships with such persons as would enable her to separate men from other women and attach them to herself, to repair her own misfortunes, to acquire wealth, and to protect her from being bullied or set upon by persons with whom she may have dealings of some kind or another.
These persons are: the guards of the town, or the police; the officers of the courts of justice; astrologers; powerful men, or men with interest; learned men; teachers of the sixty-four arts; Pithamardsas or confidants; Vitas or parasites; Vidushakas or jesters; flower sellers; perfumeers; vendors of spirits; washermen; barbers; beggars; and such other persons as may be found necessary for the particular object to be acquired.
The following kinds of men may be taken up with, simply for the purpose of getting their money; men of independent income; young men; men who are free from any ties; men who hold places of authority under the king; men who have secured their means of livelihood without difficulty; men possessed of unfailing sources of income; men who consider themselves handsome; men who are always praising themselves; one who is naturally liberal; one who has influence with the king or his ministers; one who is always fortunate; one who is proud of his wealth; one who disobeys the orders of his elders; one upon whom the members of his caste keep an eye; an only son whose father is wealthy; an ascetic who is internally troubled with desire; a brave man; a physician of the king; previous acquaintances.
On the other hand, those who are possessed of excellent qualities are to be resorted to for the sake of love and fame. Such men are as follows: men of high birth, learned, with a good knowledge of the world, and doing the proper things at the proper times; poets, good story-tellers, eloquent men, energetic men, skilled in various arts, far-seeing into the future, possessed of great minds, full of perseverance, of a firm devotion, free from anger, liberal, affectionate to their parents, and with a liking for all social gatherings, skilled in completing verses begun by others and in various other sports, free from all disease, possessed of a perfect body, strong, and not addicted to drinking, powerful in sexual enjoyment, sociable, showing love towards women and attracting their hearts to himself, but not entirely devoted to them, possessed of independent means of livelihood, free from envy, and last of all, free from suspicion.
These persons are: the guards of the town, or the police; the officers of the courts of justice; astrologers; powerful men, or men with interest; learned men; teachers of the sixty-four arts; Pithamardsas or confidants; Vitas or parasites; Vidushakas or jesters; flower sellers; perfumeers; vendors of spirits; washermen; barbers; beggars; and such other persons as may be found necessary for the particular object to be acquired.
The following kinds of men may be taken up with, simply for the purpose of getting their money; men of independent income; young men; men who are free from any ties; men who hold places of authority under the king; men who have secured their means of livelihood without difficulty; men possessed of unfailing sources of income; men who consider themselves handsome; men who are always praising themselves; one who is naturally liberal; one who has influence with the king or his ministers; one who is always fortunate; one who is proud of his wealth; one who disobeys the orders of his elders; one upon whom the members of his caste keep an eye; an only son whose father is wealthy; an ascetic who is internally troubled with desire; a brave man; a physician of the king; previous acquaintances.
On the other hand, those who are possessed of excellent qualities are to be resorted to for the sake of love and fame. Such men are as follows: men of high birth, learned, with a good knowledge of the world, and doing the proper things at the proper times; poets, good story-tellers, eloquent men, energetic men, skilled in various arts, far-seeing into the future, possessed of great minds, full of perseverance, of a firm devotion, free from anger, liberal, affectionate to their parents, and with a liking for all social gatherings, skilled in completing verses begun by others and in various other sports, free from all disease, possessed of a perfect body, strong, and not addicted to drinking, powerful in sexual enjoyment, sociable, showing love towards women and attracting their hearts to himself, but not entirely devoted to them, possessed of independent means of livelihood, free from envy, and last of all, free from suspicion.
Now a courtesan should not sacrifice money to her love, because money is the chief thing to be attended to. But in cases of fear, etc. she should pay regard to strength and other qualities. Moreover, even though she is invited by any man to join him, she should not at once consent to a union, because men are apt to despise things that are easily acquired. On such occasions she should first send the shampooers, the singers, and the jesters who may be in her service, or in their absence the Pithamardas, or confidants, and others, to find out the state of his feelings and the condition of his mind.
By means of these persons she should ascertain whether the man is pure or impure, affected or the reverse, capable of attachment or indifferent, liberal or niggardly; and if she finds him to her liking, she should then employ the Vita and others to attach his mind to her. Accordingly, the Pithamarda should bring the man to her house, under the pretence of seeing the fights of quails, cocks, and rams, of hearing the mynah (a kind of starling) talk, or of seeing some other spectacle, or the practice of some art; or he may take the woman to the abode of the man.
After this, when the man comes to her house, the woman should give him something capable of producing curiosity, and love in his heart, such as an affectionate present, telling him that it was specially designed for his use. She should also amuse him for a long time by telling him such stories and doing such things as he may take most delight in. When he goes away she should frequently send to him a female attendant, skilled in carrying on a jesting conversation, and also a small present at the same time. She should also sometimes go to him herself under the pretence of some business, and accompanied by the Pithamarda.
Thus end the means of attaching to herself the man desired.
There are also some verses on the subject as follows: ‘When a lover comes to her abode, a courtesan should give him a mixture of betel leaves and betel nut, garlands of flowers and perfumed ointments and, showing her skill in arts, should entertain him with a long conversation. She should also give him some loving presents, and make an exchange of her own things with his, and at the same time should show him her skill in sexual enjoyment. When a courtesan is thus united with her lover she should always delight him by affectionate gifts, by conversation, and by the application of tender means of enjoyment.’
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