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. And we think 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 we are 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 we are 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 we are 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 we think 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 we think 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 some fragrant substance; and wearing ornaments gilt with gold. The sages say
that these represent the gains of all the middle and lower classes of courtesans, but we think 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 wishes 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 some body 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; for 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 become 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.'
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