Part
6 - Chapter 5
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 - 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 mail
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 woman, 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 tomorrow as well as today, but if
the request of a friend be riot 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.
...
Swami Veet Chintan T'Zorba-Krsna
Jyotish
Shastracharya
& Vedic Astrologer of India
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