The Kama Sutra of Vatsayayana | Page 6

the manner of living of a virtuous Woman, and of her behaviour
during the absence of her Husband
On the conduct of the eldest Wife towards the other Wives of her
Husband, and of the younger Wife towards the elder ones. Also on the
conduct of a Virgin Widow remarried; of a Wife disliked by her
Husband; of the Women in the King's Harem; and of a Husband who
has more than one Wife

PART V: ABOUT THE WIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE

On the Characteristics of Men and Women, and the reason why
Women reject the Addresses of Men. About Men who have Success

with Women, and about Women who are easily gained over
About making Acquaintance with the Woman, and of the efforts to gain
her over
Examination of the State of a Woman's mind
The Business of a Go-Between
On the Love of Persons in authority with the Wives of other People
About the Women of the Royal Harem, and of the keeping of one's own
Wife

PART VI: ABOUT COURTESANS

Of the Causes of a Courtesan resorting to Men; of the means of
Attaching to herself the Man desired, and the kind of Man that it is
desirable to be acquainted with
Of a Courtesan living with a Man as his Wife
Of the Means of getting Money; of the Signs of a Lover who is
beginning to be Weary, and of the way to get rid of him
About a Reunion with a former Lover
Of different kinds of Gain
Of Gains and Losses, attendant Gains and Losses, and Doubts; and
lastly, the different kinds of Courtesans

PART VII: ON THE MEANS OF ATTRACTING OTHERS TO
ONE'S SELF

On Personal Adornment, subjugating the hearts of others, and of tonic
medicines
Of the means of exciting Desire, and of the ways of enlarging the
Lingam. Miscellaneous Experiments and Receipts


Footnotes
1 Dharma is acquisition of religious merit, and is fully described in
Chapter 5, volume III, of Talboys Wheeler's History of India, and in the
edicts of Asoka.
2 Artha is acquisition of wealth and property, etc.
3 Kama is love, pleasure and sensual gratification. These three words
are retained throughout in their original, as technical terms. They may
also be defined as virtue, wealth and pleasure, the three things
repeatedly spoken of in the Laws of Manu.
CHAPTER II
ON THE ACQUISITION OF DHARMA, ARTHA AND KAMA
MAN, the period of whose life is one hundred years, should practise
Dharma, Artha and Kama at different times and in such a manner that
they may harmonize together and not clash in any way. He should
acquire learning in his childhood, in his youth and middle age he
should attend to Artha and Kama, and in his old age he should perform
Dharma, and thus seek to gain Moksha, i.e. release from further
transmigration. Or, on account of the uncertainty of life, he may
practise them at times when they are enjoined to be practised. But one
thing is to be noted, he should lead the life of a religious student until
he finishes his education.

Dharma is obedience to the command of the Shastra or Holy Writ of
the Hindoos to do certain things, such as the performance of sacrifices,
which are not generally done, because they do not belong to this world,
and produce no visible effect; and not to do other things, such as eating
meat, which is often done because it belongs to this world, and has
visible effects.
Dharma should be learnt from the Shruti (Holy Writ), and from those
conversant with it.
Artha is the acquisition of arts, land, gold, cattle, wealth, equipages and
friends. It is, further, the protection of what is acquired, and the
increase of what is protected.
Artha should be learnt from the king's officers, and from merchants
who may be versed in the ways of commerce.
Kama is the enjoyment of appropriate objects by the five senses of
hearing, feeling, seeing, tasting and smelling, assisted by the mind
together with the soul. The ingredient in this is a peculiar contact
between the organ of sense and its object, and the consciousness of
pleasure which arises from that contact is called Kama.
Kama is to be learnt from the Kama Sutra (aphorisms on love) and
from the practice of citizens.
When all the three, viz. Dharma, Artha and Kama, come together, the
former is better than the one which follows it, i.e. Dharma is better than
Artha, and Artha is better than Kama. But Artha should always be first
practised by the king for the livelihood of men is to be obtained from it
only. Again, Kama being the occupation of public women, they should
prefer it to the other two, and these are