Part six, chapters three and four of the Kimasutra. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain and is read by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina.
The Kimasutra by Vatsiayana, Part six, Chapter three, of the means
of getting money, of the signs of the change of a lover's feelings,
and of the way to get rid of him. Money is got out of
a lover in two ways, that is, by natural or lawful means,
and by artifices. Old authors are of opinion that when a courtesan can get
as much money as she wants from her lover, she should not make use
of artifice. But Vatsiayana lays down that though she may get some money from
him by natural means, yet when she makes use of artifus, he gives
her doubly more. And therefore artifasts should be resorted to for the purpose of
extorting money from him at all events. Now the artifice is to be used
for getting money from her lover are as follows. First taking money from him
on different occasions for the purpose of purchasing various articles such as ornaments, food,
drink, flowers, perfumes, and cloths and either not buying them or
getting from him more than their cost. Second, praising his intelligence to his
face. Third pretending to be obliged to make gifts on occasion of festivals connected
with vows trees, gardens, temples, or tanks. Footnote. On the
completion of a vow, a festival takes place. Some trees, such as
the peepul and Banyan trees are invested with sacred threads like the Brahmins, and
on the occasion of this ceremony, a festival is given. In the same
way when gardens are made and tanks or temples built, then also festivals are
observed and footnote. Fourth pretending that at the time of going to his house
house her jewels have been stolen, either by the King's guards or by robbers.
Fifth alleging that her property has been destroyed by fire, by the falling
of her house, or by the carelessness of her servants. Sixth pretending to
have lost the ornaments of her lover along with her own. Seventh causing him
to hear through other people of the expenses incurred by her in coming to see
him. Eighth contracting debts for the sake of her lover. Ninth disputing with
her mother on account of some expense incurred by her for her lover, and
which was not approved of by her mother. Tenth not going to parties and
festivities in the houses of her friends for the want of presents to make to
them, she having previously informed her lover of the valuable presence given to her
by these very friends. Eleventh, not performing certain festive rites under the pretense
that she has no no money to perform them with. Twelfth, engaging artists
to do something for her lover. Thirteen, entertaining physicians and ministers for the
purpose of attaining some object Fourteenth assisting friends and benefactors, both on festive occasions
and in misfortune, Fifteenth performing household rites. Sixteen having to pay the expenses
of the ceremony of marriage of the son of a female friend. Seventeen,
having to satisfy curious wishes during her state of pregnancy, Eighteen pretending to be
ill and charging her cost of treatment. Nineteen, having to remove the troubles
of a friend. Twentieth selling some of her ornaments so as to give her
lover a present. Twenty First pretending to sell some of her ornaments furniture or
cooking eut til tenseils to a trader who has been already tutored how to behave
in the matter. Twenty second, having to buy cooking utensils of greater value
than those of other people, so that they might be more easily distinguished and
not changed for others of an inferior description. Twenty third, remembering the former
favors of her lover and causing them always to be spoken of by her friends
and followers. Twenty fourth, informing her lover of the great gains of other
courtesans. Twenty fifth, describing before them, and in the presence of her
lover, her own great gains, and making them out to be greater even
than theirs, though such may not have been really the case. Twenty sixth,
openly opposing her mother when she endeavors to persuade her to take up with
men with whom she has been formally acquainted, on account of the great gains
to be got from them. Twenty seventh, lastly pointing out to her lover
the liberality of his rivals. Thus end the ways and means of getting money.
A woman should always know the state of the mind, of the feelings,
and of the disposition of her lover towards her, from the changes of
his temper, his manner, and the color of his face. The behavior
of a waning lover is as follows. First, he gives the woman either
less than is wanted or something else than that which is asked for. Second,
he keeps her in hopes by promises. Third, he pretends to do
one thing and does something else. Fourth, he does not fulfill her desires.
Fifth, he forgets his promises or does something else than that which he
has promised. Sixth, he speaks with his own servants in a mysterious way.
Seventh he sleeps in some other house under the pretense of having to do
something for a friend. Eighth. Lastly, he speaks in private with the
attendance of a woman with whom he was formerly acquainted. Now, when a
Kurutuzan finds that her lover's disposition towards her is changing, she should get possession
of all his best things before he becomes aware of her intentions, and allow
a supposing creditor to take them away forcibly from her in satisfaction of some pretended
debt. After this, if the lover is rich and has always behaved well
towards her, she should ever treat him with respect. But if he is
poor and destitute, she should get rid of him, as if she had
never been acquainted with him in any way before. The means of getting rid
of a lover are as follows. First, describing the habits and vices of
the lover as disagreeable and censurable, with the sneer of the lip and the
stamp of the foot. Second, speaking on a subject with which he is
not acquainted. Third, showing no admiration for his learn earning and passing a
censure upon it. Fourth, putting down his pride. Fifth, seeking the
company of men who are superior to him in learning in wisdom. Sixth,
showing a disregard for him on all occasions. Seventh censuring men possessed of the
same faults as her lover. Eighth, expressing dissatisfaction at the ways and means
of enjoyment used by him, Ninth, not giving him her mouth to kiss,
Tenth, refusing access to her jagana, that is the part of the
body between the navel and the thighs. Eleven showing a dislike for the wounds
made by his nails and teeth, twelve, not pressing close up against him
at the time when he embraces her, thirteen, keeping her limbs without movement
at the time of congress, fourteen, desiring him to will employ her when
he is fatigued, fifteenth, laughing at his attachment to her, sixteenth,
not responding to his embraces seventeen, turning away from him when he begins to
embrace her, eighteenth, pretending to be sleepy. Nineteenth, going out,
visiting or into company when she perceives his desire to enjoy her during the daytime,
twentieth, misconstruing his words. Twenty first, laughing without any joke or
at the time of any joke made by him, laughing under some pretense,
twenty second, looking with sigh glances at her own attendants and clapping her hands
when he says anything. Twenty third, interrupting him in the middle of his
stories and beginning to tell other stories herself. Twenty fourth, reciting his faults
and his vices and declaring them to be in curable. Twenty fifth, saying
words to her female attendants calculated to cut the heart of her lover to the
quick, twenty sixth taking care not to look at him when he comes to
her twenty seventh, asking him what cannot be granted twenty eighth, and after
all, finally dismissing him. There are also two verses on this subject.
As follows, the duty of a courtesan consists in forming connections with suitable men
after due and full consideration, and attaching the person with whom she is united
to herself, and obtaining wealth from the person who is attached to her,
and then dismissing him after she has taken away all his possessions. A courtesan
leading in this manner, the life of a wife is not troubled with too
many lovers, and yet obtains abundance of wealth. Chapter four about reunion with
a former lover. When a courtesan abandons her present lover after all his wealth
is exhausted, she may then consider about her reunion with a former lover.
But she should return to him only if he has acquired fresh wealth or is
still wealthy, and if he is still attached to her, And if this
man be living at the time with some other women, she should consider well
before she acts. Now, such a man can only be in one of
the six following conditions. First, he may have left the first woman of
his own accord, and may even have left another woman since then. Second,
he may have been driven away from both women. Third, he may
have left the one woman of his own accord and be living with another woman.
Fourth, there is no fourth given in the text. Fifth, he
may have been driven away from the one woman and left the other of his
own accord. Sixth, he may have been driven away by the one woman
and may be living with another. On. Now, if the man has
left both women of his own accord, he should not be resorted to on
account of the fickleness of his mind and his indifference to the excellencies of both
of them. Two. As regards the man who may have been driven away
from both women, if he has been driven away from the last one because
the woman could get more money from some other man, then he should be
resorted to, for if attached to the first woman, he would give her
more money through vanity and emulation, despite the other woman. But if he
has been driven away by the woman on account of his poverty or stinginess,
he should not then be resorted to. Three. In the case of the
man who may have left the one woman of his own accord and been driven
away by the other. If he agrees to return to the former and give
her plenty of money beforehand, then he should be resorted to. Four.
In the case of the man who may have left the one woman of his
own accord and be living with another woman, the former wishing to take up
with him again, should first ascertain if he left her in the first instance,
in the hope of finding some particular excellence in the other woman, and
that, not having found any such excellence, he was willing to come back
to her and give her much money on account of his conduct and on account
of his affections still existing for her, Or whether, having discovered many faults
in the other woman, he would now see even more excellences in herself than
actually exist, and would be prepared to give her much money for these qualities.
Or lastly, to consider whether he was a weak man, or a
man fond of enjoying many women, or one who liked a poor woman,
or one who never did anything for the woman that he was with. After
maturely considering all these things, she should resort to him or not, according
to circumstances. Five. As regards the man who may have been driven away
from the one woman and left the other of his own accord. The former
woman wishing to reunite with him, should first ascertain whether he still has any
affection for her and would consequently spend much money upon her, or whether,
being attached to her excellent qualities, he did not take delight in any other
women, Or whether, being driven away from her formerly before completely satisfying his
sexual desires, he wished to get back to her so as to be revenged
for the injury done to him, Or whether he wished to create confidence in
her mind and then take back from her the wealth which she formerly took from
him, and finally destroy her. Or lastly, whether he wished first to
separate her from her present lover, and then to break away from her himself.
If after considering all these things, she is of opinion that his intentions
are really pure and honest, she can reunite herself with him. But if
his mind be at all tainted with evil intentions, he should be avoided.
Six. In the case of the man who may have been driven away by
one woman and be living with another, if the man makes overtures in return
to the first one, the courtesan should consider well before she acts and while
the other woman is engaged in attracting him to herself, she should try,
in her turn, though keeping herself behind the scenes, to gain him over
on the grounds of any of the following considerations. First that he was driven
away unjustly and for no proper reason, and now that he has gone to
another woman, every effort must be used to bring him back to myself.
Second that if he were once to converse with me again, he would break
away from the other woman. Third, that the pride of my present lover
would be put down by means of the former one. Fourth that he has
become wealthy, has secured a higher position, and holds a place of authority
under the king. Fifth that he is separate from his wife. Sixth that
he is now independent. Seventh that he lives apart from his father or brother.
Eighth that by making peace with him, I shall be able to get
hold of a very rich man who is now prevented from coming to me by
by present lover. Nine That as he is not respected by his wife,
I shall now be able to separate him from her. Tenth that the friend
of this man loves my rival, who hates me cordially, I shall therefore
by this means separate the friend from his mistress. Eleventh and lastly, I
shall bring discredit upon him by bringing him back to me, thus showing the
fickleness of his mind. When a kurtaesan is resolved to take up again with
a former lover, her Pithemurda and other servants should tell him that his former
expulsion from the woman's house will was caused by the wickedness of her mother.
That the woman loved him just as much as ever at that time, but
could not help the occurrence, on account of her deference to her mother's will,
that she hated the union of her present lover and disliked him excessively.
In addition to this, they should create confidence in his mind by speaking to
him of her former love for him, and should allude to the mark of
that love that she has ever remembered. This mark of her love should be
connected with some kind of pleasure that may have been practiced by him, such
as his way of kissing her or manner of having connection with her. Thus,
and the ways of bringing about a reunion with a former lover. When
a woman has to choose between two lovers, one of whom was formerly united
with her, while the other is a stranger. The Acarias sages are of
opinion that the first one is preferable, because his disposition and character, being
already known by previous careful observation, he can be easily pleased and satisfied.
But vets Yayana thinks that a former lover, having already spent a great deal
of his wealth, is not able or willing to give much money again,
and is not therefore to be relied upon so much as a stranger. Particular
cases may, however, arise, differing from this general rule, on account
of the different natures of men. There are also verses on the subject.
As follows. Reunion with a former lover may be desirable so as to separate
some particular woman from some particular man, or some particular man from some particular
woman, or to have a certain effect upon the present lover. When a
man is excessively attached to a woman, he is afraid of her coming into
contact with other men. He does not then regard or notice her faults,
and he gives her much wealth through fear of her leaving him. A courtesan
should be agreeable to the man who is attached to her and despise the man
who does not care for her. If while she is living with one man,
a messenger comes to her from some other man, she may either refuse
to listen to any negotiations on his part, or a point a fixed time
for him to visit her. But she should not leave the man who may
be living with her and who may be attached to her. A wise woman
should only renew her connection with a former lover if she is satisfied that good
fortune, gain love, and friendship are likely to be the result of such
a reunion. End of Chapter four