The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana - The Original Classic Edition. Vatsyayana Vatsyayana

form in five hundred chapters, and this work was again similarly reproduced in an abridged form, in one hundred and fifty chapters, by Babhravya, an inhabitant of the Punchala (South of Delhi) country. These one hundred and fifty chapters were then put together under seven heads or parts named severally-- 1st. Sadharana (general topics). 2nd. Samprayogika (embraces, etc.). [13] 3rd. Kanya Samprayuktaka (union of males and females). 4th. Bharyadhikarika (on one's own wife). 5th. Paradika (on the wives of other people). 5 6th. Vaisika (on courtesans). 7th. Aupamishadika (on the arts of seduction, tonic medicines, etc.). The sixth part of this last work was separately expounded by Dattaka at the request of the public women of Pataliputra (Patna), and in the same way Charayana explained the first part of it. The remaining parts, viz., the second, third, fourth, fifth, and seventh were each separately expounded by-- Suvarnanabha (second part). Ghotakamukha (third part). Gonardiya (fourth part). Gonikaputra (fifth part). Kuchumara (seventh part), respectively. Thus the work being written in parts by different authors was almost unobtainable, and as the parts which were expounded by Dattaka and the others treated only of the particular branches of the subject to which each part related, and moreover as the original work of Babhravya was difficult to be mastered on account of its length, Vatsyayana, therefore, composed his work in a small volume as an abstract of the whole of the works of the above-named authors. [14] PART I. CHAPTER I. BEING THE INDEX TO OR CONTENTS OF THE WORK.

      Chapter

      II.

      Observations on the three worldly attainments of Virtue, Wealth and Love.

      "

      III.

      On the study of the Sixty-four Arts.

      "

      IV.

      On the Arrangements of a House, and Household Furniture; and about the Daily Life of a Citizen, his Com-

      panions, Amusements, &c.

       " V. About classes of Women fit and unfit for Congress with the Citizen, and of Friends, and Messengers.

       PART II.

       ON SEXUAL UNION.

       Chapter I. Kinds of Union according to Dimensions, Force of Desire, and Time; and on the different kinds of Love. " II. Of the Embrace.

       " III. On Kissing.

       " IV. On Pressing or Marking with the Nails.

       " V. On Biting, and the ways of Love to be employed with regard to Women of different countries. " VI. On the various ways of Lying Down, and the different kinds of Congress.

       " VII. On the various ways of Striking, and of the Sounds appropriate to them. " VIII. About females acting the part of Males.

       " IX. On holding the Lingam in the Mouth.

       " X. How to begin and how to end the Congress. Different kinds of Congress, and Love Quarrels. [15]

       PART III.

       ABOUT THE ACQUISITION OF A WIFE.

      Chapter

      I.

      Observations on Betrothal and Marriage.

      "

      II.

      About creating Confidence in the Girl.

      "

      III.

      Courtship, and the manifestations of the feelings by outward signs and deeds.

      "

      IV.

      On things to be done only by the Man, and the acquisition of the Girl thereby. Also what to be done by a Girl

      to gain over a Man and subject him to her.

       " V. On the different Forms of Marriage.

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       PART IV.

       ABOUT A WIFE.

       Chapter I. On the manner of living of a virtuous Woman, and of her behaviour during the absence of her Husband.

       " II. 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.

       Chapter I. 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.

       " II. About making Acquaintance with the Woman, and of the efforts to gain her over. " III. Examination of the State of a Woman's mind.

       " IV. The business of a Go-between.

       " V. On the Love of Persons in authority with the Wives of other People.

       " VI. About the Women of the Royal Harem, and of the keeping of one's own Wife. [16]

       PART VI.

       ABOUT COURTESANS.

       Chapter I. 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.

      "

      II.

      Of a Courtesan living with a Man as his Wife.

      "

      III.

      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.

      "

      IV.

      About a Re-union with a former Lover.

      "

      V.

      Of different kinds of Gain.

      "

      VI.

      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.

       Chapter I. On Personal Adornment, subjugating the hearts of others, and of tonic medicines.

       " II. Of the Means of exciting Desire, and of the ways of enlarging the Lingam. Miscellaneous Experiments and

       Receipts. [17]

       PART I. 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 man-ner 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.

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       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