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Kamasutra, the great doctrine of love whispers the secret of lovemaking and also edifies the mass on the varied aspects of illustrating the passion.
In this chapter Kamasutra says that kings and other officials cannot go to the common man's residence and moreover the other people always watch their manner of living. From morning to night they remain surrounded by the people, and therefore cannot do any indecent act in public. But when at any point of time they are helpless, in that case they can follow some steps, which are discussed below: The headman of the village, the king's officer, etc. can gain over female villagers simply by asking them. It is on this account that voluptuaries call this class of woman unchaste women. According to Kamasutra, the union of the above mentioned men with this class of woman takes place on the occasions of unpaid labor like filling the granaries in their houses, taking things in and out of the house, cleaning the houses, working in the fields, or purchasing cotton, wool, flax, hemp, and thread, sale, and exchange of various other articles. The intelligent carries out their work by wandering at night. Sometimes the villagers unite with the wives of their sons also. The superintendents of markets unite with the female villagers at the time of their making purchases in the market. During the festival of the eighth moon, i.e. during the bright half of the month of Nargashirsha, during the moonlight festival of the month of Kartika, and the spring festival of Chaitra, the women of cities and towns generally visit the women of the king's harem. At that time the female attendant of king points out the woman who is with them and who is of king's desire. She then loiter around and show all the beautiful things in the palace as well as tell her about the love of king towards her and also the good fortune she is going to have. If the woman reacts negatively then the attendant should conciliate and please her with handsome presents. She also accompanied her for some distance and then send away her with great care and affection. Sometimes the wives of the king by introducing with the husband of the woman whom the king likes arrange her coming to the king's harem. Then the female attendant serves the following purpose. Sometimes the wife of king's harem sent a female attendant to call upon the woman of king's desire to the palace. And then the female attendant can follow the above-described procedure. 
Sometimes the woman liked by the king is invited by the wives of the king to have a look on the arts practiced by the wives. And after her coming to the royal palace the female attendant can follow the same process as above.
Sometimes the female beggar in association with the king's wife says to the woman desired by the king or who is under poverty that king's wife is very influential and also king hearted and she will help her in this course. If the woman accepts the offer and come to the harem, the wife of king should help her and talk to her nicely. Thus when the woman gets confidence and come to the harem again then the female attendant can follow the same process stated above. There are some special cases depending on which the woman can be brought to the palace. These are as follows: The wife of those who seek service under the king, who are oppressed by the king's ministers, who are poor, who are not satisfied with their position, who are desirous of gaining the king's favor, who wish to become famous among the people, who are oppressed by the members of their own caste, who wants to injure their caste fellows, who are spies of the king, or who have any other object to attain. There are some more cases on which the king gains a woman of his desire like if the woman is living with someone who is not her husband, the king can arrest her and place her in the harem as a slave. Or sometimes the king would cause quarrel with the husband by his ambassador and thus arrest her as the wife of the enemy of king and place her in the harem. The chapter on the means of gaining over the wives of others mentioned in Vatsayana's Kamasutra ends here. The ways that are mentioned above for gaining over the wives of other men are mainly practiced in the palaces of kings. But generally kings are not allowed to go to the common man's house for this purpose. There are some reasons behind it. The king of the Kottas named Abhira was killed by a washer man while in the house of another, and in the same way Jayasana, the king of the Kashis, was murdered by the chief of his cavalry. 
But according to the customs of some countries there are facilities for kings to make love to the wives of other men. Some of the examples are as follows in Andhra the newly married daughters of the people on the tenth day of their marriage, come to the king's harem with some presents and enjoyed by the king. In Vatsagulmas the wives of the chief ministers approach the king at night to serve him. In Vaidarbhas the beautiful wives of the people pass a month in the king's harem to show the affection for the king. In Aparatakas the people gave their beautiful wives as presents to the ministers and the kings. And lastly in Saurashtras the women of the city enter the royal harem only to satisfy the king's pleasure.
Two verses on Kamasutra on the subject are 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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