worms; one whose breath smells like human excrement; one whose wife is 

dear to him; one who speaks harshly; one who is always suspicious; one 

who is avaricious; one who is pitiless; one who is a thief; one who is 

self-conceited; one who has a liking for sorcery; one who does not care 

for respect or disrespect; one who can be gained over even by his 

enemies by means of money; and lastly, one who is extremely bashful. 

Ancient authors are of opinion that the causes of a courtesan resorting 

to men are love, fear, money, pleasure, returning some act of enmity, 

curiosity, sorrow, constant intercourse, Dharma, celebrity, compassion, 

the desire of having a friend, shame, the likeness of the man to some 

beloved person, the search after good fortune, the getting rid of the 

love of somebody else, the being of the same class as the man with 

respect to sexual union, living in the same place, constancy, and 

poverty. But Vatsyayana decides that desire of wealth, freedom from 

misfortune, and love, are the only causes that affect the union of 

courtesans with men. 

Now a courtesan should not sacrifice money to her love, because money is 

the chief thing to be attended to. But in cases of fear, etc., she 

should pay regard to strength and other qualities. Moreover, even though 

she be invited by any man to join him, she should not at once consent to 

an union, because men are apt to despise things which are easily 

acquired. On such occasions she should first send the shampooers, and 

the singers, and the jesters, who may be in her service, or, in their 

absence the Pithamardas, or confidants, and others, to find out the 

state of his feelings, and the condition of his mind. By means of these 

persons she should ascertain whether the man is pure or impure, 

affected, or the reverse, capable of attachment, or indifferent, liberal 

or niggardly; and if she finds him to her liking, she should then 

employ the Vita and others to attach his mind to her. 

Accordingly, the Pithamarda should bring the man to her house, under the 

pretence of seeing the fights of quails, cocks, and rams, of hearing the 

maina (a kind of starling) talk, or of seeing some other spectacle, or 

the practice of some art; or he may take the woman to the abode of the 

man. After this, when the man comes to her house the woman should give 

him something capable of producing curiosity, and love in his heart, 

such as an affectionate present, telling him that it was specially