living is constantly watched and observed and imitated by the people at large, just as the animal
world, seeing the sun rise, get up after him, and when he sits in the evening, lie down again in the
same way. Persons in authority should not therefore do any improper act in public, as such are
impossible from their position, and would be deserving of censure. But if they find that such an
act is necessary to be done, they should make use of the proper means as described in the
following paragraphs. The head man of the village, the king's officer employed there, and the man
whose business it is to glean corn, can gain over female villagers simply by asking them. It is on
this account that these classes of woman are called unchaste women by voluptuaries. The union
of the above mentioned men with this class of woman takes place on the occasions of unpaid
labour, of filling the granaries in their houses, of taking things in and out of the house, of cleaning
the houses, of working in the fields, and of purchasing cotton, wool, flax, hemp, and thread, and
at the season of the purchase, sale, and exchange of various other articles, as well as at the time
of doing various other works. In the same way the superintendents of cow pens enjoy the women
in the cow pens; and the officers, who crave the superintendence of widows, of the women who
are without supporters, and of women who have left their husbands, have sexual intercourse with
these women. The intelligent accomplish their object by wandering at night in the village, and
while villagers also unite with the wives of their sons, being much alone with them. Lastly the
superintendents of markets have a great deal to do with the female villagers at the time of their
making purchases in the market. the women of cities and towns generally visit the women of the
king's harem in the royal palace. These visitors go to the several apartments of the women of the
harem, as they are acquainted with them, and pass the night in conversation, and in proper
sports, and amusement, and go away in the morning. On such occasions a female attendant of
the king (previously acquainted with the woman whom the king desires) should loiter about, and
accost this woman when she sets out to go home, and induce her to come and see the amusing
things in the palace. Previous to these festivals even, she should have caused it to be intimated
to this woman that on the occasion of this festival she would show her all the interesting things in
the royal palace. Accordingly she should show her the bower of the coral creeper, the garden
house with its floor inlaid with precious stones, the bower of grapes, the building on the water, the
secret passages in the walls of the palace, the pictures, the sporting animals, the machines, the
birds, and the cages of the lions and the tigers. After this, when alone with her, she should tell her
about the love of the king for her, and should describe to her the good fortune which would attend
upon her union with the king, giving her at the time a strict promise of secrecy. If the woman does
not accept the offer, she should conciliate and please her with handsome presents befitting the
position of the king, and having accompanied her for some distance should dismiss her with great
affection. Or, having made the acquaintance of the husband of the woman whom the king
desires, the wives of the king should get the wife to pay them a visit in the harem, and on this
occasion a female attendant of the king, having been sent thither, should act as above described.
Or, one of the king's wives should get acquainted with the woman that the king desires, by
sending one of the female attendants to her, who should, on their becoming more intimate,
induce her to come and see the royal abode. Afterwards when she has visited the harem, and
acquired confidence, a female confidante of the king, sent thither, should act as before described.
Or, the king's wife should invite the woman, whom the king desires, to come to the royal palace,
so that she might see the practice of the art in which the king's wife may be skilled, and after she
has come to the harem, a female attendant of the king, sent thither, should act as before
described. Or, a female beggar, in league with the king's wife, should say to the woman desired
by the king, and whose husband may have lost his wealth, or may have some cause of fear from
the king: 'This wife of the king has influence over him, and she is, moreover, naturally kindhearted,
we must therefore go to her in this matter. I shall arrange for your entrance into the
harem, and she will do away with all cause of danger and fear from the king.' If the woman
accepts this offer, the female beggar should take her two or three times to the harem, and the
king's wife there should give her a promise of protection. After this, when the woman, delighted
with her reception and promise of protection, again goes to the harem, then a female attendant of
the king, sent thither, should act as directed. What has been said above regarding the wife of one
who has some cause of fear from the king applies also to the wives of those who seek service
under the king, or who are oppressed by the king's ministers, or who are poor, or who are not
satisfied with their position, or who are desirous of gaining the king's favour, or who wish to
become famous among the people, or who are oppressed by the members of their own caste, or
who want to injure their caste fellows, or who are spies of the king, or who have any other object
to attain. Lastly, if the woman desired by the king be living with some person who is not her
husband, then the king should cause her to be arrested, and having made her a slave, on
account of her crime, should place her in the harem. Or the king should cause his ambassador to
quarrel with the husband of the woman desired by him, and should then imprison her as the wife
of an enemy of the king, and by this means should place her in the harem. Thus end the means
of gaining over the wives of others secretly. The above mentioned ways of gaining over the wives
of other men are chiefly practiced in the palaces of kings. But a king should never enter the
abode of another person,
There are also two verses on the subject as follows:
'The above and other ways are the means employed in different countries by kings with regard to
the wives of other persons. But a king, who has the welfare of his people at heart, should not on
any account put them into practice.' 'A king, who has conquered the six enemies of mankind,
becomes the master of the whole earth.'
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