The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana: Part I: Introductory: Chapter V. About Classes of Women Fit and Unfit for Congress with the Citizen, and of Friends, and Messengers

 

But these four latter kinds of Nayikas do not differ much from the first four kinds of them, as there is no separate object in resorting to them. Therefore, Vatsyayana is of opinion that there are only four kinds of Nayikas, i.e. the maid, the twice-married woman, the public woman, and the woman resorted to for a special purpose.

The following women are not to be enjoyed:

• A leper
• A lunatic
• A woman turned out of caste
• A woman who reveals secrets
• A woman who publicly expresses desire for sexual intercourse
• A woman who is extremely white
• A woman who is extremely black
• A bad-smelling woman
• A woman who is a near relation
• A woman who is a female friend
• A woman who leads the life of an ascetic
• And, lastly the wife of a relation, of a friend, of a learned Brahman, and of the king

The followers of Babhravya say that any woman who has been enjoyed by five men is a fit and proper person to be enjoyed. But Gonikaputra is of opinion that even when this is the case, the wives of a relation, of a learned Brahman and of a king should be excepted.

The following are of the kind of friends:

• One who has played with you in the dust, i.e. in childhood
• One who is bound by an obligation
• One who is of the same disposition and fond of the same things
• One who is a fellow student
• One who is acquainted with your secrets and faults, and whose faults and secrets are also known to you
• One who is a child of your nurse
• One who is brought up with you one who is an hereditary friend

These friends should possess the following qualities:

• They should tell the truth
• They should not be changed by time
• They should be favourable to your designs
• They should be firm
• They should be free from covetousness
• They should not be capable of being gained over by others
• They should not reveal your secrets

Charayana says that citizens form friendship with washermen, barbers, cowherds, florists, druggists, betel-leaf sellers, tavern keepers, beggars, Pithamardas, Vitas and Vidushekas, as also with the wives of all these people.

A messenger should possess the following qualities:

• Skilfulness
• Boldness
• Knowledge of the intention of men by their outward signs
• Absence of confusion, i.e. no shyness
• Knowledge of the exact meaning of what others do or say
• Good manners
• Knowledge of appropriate times and places for doing different things
• Ingenuity in business
• Quick comprehension
• Quick application of remedies, i.e. quick and ready resources

And this part ends with a verse:

'The man who is ingenious and wise, who is accompanied by a friend, and who knows the intentions of others, as also the proper time and place for doing everything, can gain over, very easily, even a woman who is very hard to be obtained.'

The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana: Part I: Introductory: Chapter V. About Classes of Women Fit and Unfit for Congress with the Citizen, and of Friends, and Messengers