CHAPTER V.

OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF GAIN.

When a courtesan is able to realize much money every day, by reason of

many customers, she should not confine herself to a single lover; under

such circumstances, she should fix her rate for one night, after

considering the place, the season, and the condition of the people, and

having regard to her own good qualities and good looks, and after

comparing her rates with those of other courtesans. She can inform her

lovers, and friends, and acquaintances about these charges. If, however,

she can obtain a great gain from a single lover, she may resort to him

alone, and live with him like a wife.

Now, the Sages are of opinion that when a courtesan has the chance of an

equal gain from two lovers at the same time, a preference should be

given to the one who would give her the kind of thing which she wants.

But Vatsyayana says that the preference should be given to the one who

gives her gold, because it cannot be taken back like some other things,

it can be easily received, and is also the means of procuring anything

that may be wished for. Of such things as gold, silver, copper, bell

metal, iron, pots, furniture, beds, upper garments, under vestments,

fragrant substances, vessels made of gourds, ghee, oil, corn, cattle,

and other things of a like nature, the first, viz., gold, is superior to

all the others.

When the same labour is required to gain any two lovers, or when the

same kind of thing is to be got from each of them, the choice should be

made by the advice of a friend, or it may be made from their personal

qualities, or from the signs of good or bad fortune that may be

connected with them.

When there are two lovers, one of whom is attached to the courtesan, and

the other is simply very generous, the Sages say that the preference

should be given to the generous lover, but Vatsyayana is of opinion that

the one who is really attached to the courtesan should be preferred,

because he can be made to be generous, even as a miser gives money if he

becomes fond of a woman, but a man who is simply generous cannot be made

to love with real attachment. But among those who are attached to her,

if there is one who is poor, and one who is rich, the preference is of

course to be given to the latter.

When there are two lovers, one of whom is generous, and the other ready

to do any service for the courtesan, some Sages say that the one who is

ready to do the service should be preferred, but Vatsyayana is of

opinion that a man who does a service thinks that he has gained his

object when he has done something once, but a generous man does not care

for what he has given before. Even here the choice should be guided by

the likelihood of the future good to be derived from her union with

either of them.

When one of the two lovers is grateful, and the other liberal, some

Sages say that the liberal one should be preferred, but Vatsyayana is of

opinion that the former should be chosen, because liberal men are

generally haughty, plain spoken, and wanting in consideration towards

others. Even though these liberal men have been on friendly terms for a

long time, yet if they see any fault in the courtesan, or are told lies

about her by some other women, they do not care for past services, but

leave abruptly. On the other hand the grateful man does not at once

break off from her, on account of a regard for the pains she may have

taken to please him. In this case also the choice is to be guided with

respect to what may happen in future.

When an occasion for complying with the request of a friend, and a

chance of getting money come together, the Sages say that the chance of

getting money should be preferred. But Vatsyayana thinks that the money

can be obtained to-morrow as well as to-day, but if the request of a

friend be not at once complied with, he may become disaffected. Even

here, in making the choice, regard must be paid to future good fortune.

On such an occasion, however, the courtesan might pacify her friend by

pretending to have some work to do, and telling him that his request

will be complied with next day, and in this way secure the chance of

getting the money that has been offered her.

When the chance of getting money, and the chance of avoiding some

disaster come at the same time, the Sages are of opinion that the chance

of getting money should be preferred, but Vatsyayana says that money has

only a limited importance, while a disaster that is once averted may

never occur again. Here, however, the choice should be guided by the

greatness or smallness of the disaster.

The gains of the wealthiest and best kind of courtesans are to be spent

as follows:

Building temples, tanks, and gardens; giving a thousand cows to

different Brahmans; carrying on the worship of the Gods, and celebrating

festivals in their honour; and, lastly, performing such vows as may be

within their means.

The gains of other courtesans are to be spent as follows:

Having a white dress to wear every day; getting sufficient food and

drink to satisfy hunger and thirst; eating daily a perfumed Tambula,

_i.e._, a mixture of betel nut and betel leaves; and wearing ornaments

gilt with gold. The Sages say that these represent the gains of all the

middle and lower classes of courtesans, but Vatsyayana is of opinion

that their gains cannot be calculated, or fixed in any way, as these

depend on the influence of the place, the customs of the people, their

own appearance, and many other things.

When a courtesan wants to keep some particular man from some other

woman; or wants to get him away from some woman to whom he may be

attached; or to deprive some woman of the gains realized by her from

him; or if she thinks that she would raise her position; or enjoy some

great good fortune; or become desirable to all men by uniting herself

with this man; or if she wishes to get his assistance in averting some

misfortune; or is really attached to him and loves him; or wishes to

injure somebody through his means; or has regard to some former favour

conferred upon her by him; or wishes to be united with him merely from

desire; or any of the above reasons, she should agree to take from him

only a small sum of money in a friendly way.

When a courtesan intends to abandon a particular lover, and take up with

another one; or when she has reason to believe that her lover will

shortly leave her, and return to his wives; or that having squandered

all his money, and became penniless, his guardian, or master, or father

would come and take him away; or that her lover is about to lose his

position, or lastly, that he is of a very fickle mind, she should, under

any of these circumstances, endeavour to get as much money as she can

from him as soon as possible.

On the other hand, when the courtesan thinks that her lover is about to

receive valuable presents; or get a place of authority from the King; or

be near the time of inheriting a fortune; or that his ship would soon

arrive laden with merchandise; or that he has large stocks of corn and

other commodities; or that if anything was done for him it would not be

done in vain; or that he is always true to his word; then should she

have regard to her future welfare, and live with the man like a wife.

There are also verses on the subject as follows:

"In considering her present gains, and her future welfare, a courtesan

should avoid such persons as have gained their means of subsistence with

very great difficulty, as also those who have become selfish and

hard-hearted by becoming the favourites of Kings."

"She should make every endeavour to unite herself with prosperous and

well-to-do people, and with those whom it is dangerous to avoid, or to

slight in any way. Even at some cost to herself she should become

acquainted with energetic and liberal-minded men, who when pleased would

give her a large sum of money, even for very little service, or for some

small thing."