[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Polity, Pleasure & Law](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti) › [Erotics and the Art of Love](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama) › [Kamasutra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana) › 2.6 # Kamasutra 2.6 Kāmasūtra 2.6 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6) saṃveśanaprakārāścitraratāni ### [2.6.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.1) rāgakāle viśālayanty eva jaghanaṃ mṛgī saṃviśed uccarate// > On the occasion of a "high congress" the Mrigi (deer-woman) should lie down in such a way as to widen her yoni, while in a "low congress" the Hastini (elephant-woman) should lie down so as to contract hers. But in an "equal congress" they should lie down in the natural position. What is said above concerning the Mrigi and the Hastini applies also to the Vadawa (mare-woman). In the "low congress" the women should particularly make use of medicine, to cause her desires to be satisfied quickly. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.2) avahrāsayantīva hastinī nīcarate// ### [2.6.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.3) nyāyyo yatra yogas tatra samapṛṣṭham// ### [2.6.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.4) ābhyāṃ vaḍavā vyākhyātā// ### [2.6.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.5) tatra jaghanena nāyakaṃ pratigṛhṇīyāt// ### [2.6.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.6) apadravyāṇi ca saviśeṣaṃ nīcarate// ### [2.6.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.7) utphullakaṃ vijṛmbhitakam indrāṇikaṃ ceti tritayaṃ mṛgyāḥ prāyeṇa// > The deer-woman has the following three ways of lying down. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana > The widely opened position. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana > The yawning position. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana > The position of the wife of Indra. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.8) śiro vinipātyordhvaṃ jaghanam utphullakam// > (1) When she lowers her head and raises her middle parts, it is called the "widely opened position." At such a time the man should apply some unguent, so as to make the entrance easy. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.9) tatrāpasāraṃ dadyāt// ### [2.6.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.10) anīce sakthinī tiryag avasajya pratīcched iti vijṛmbhitakam// > (2) When she raises her thighs and keeps them wide apart and engages in congress, it is called the "yawning position." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.11) pārśvayoḥ samam ūrū vinyasya pārśvayor jānunī nidadhyād ity abhyāsayogād indrāṇī// > (3) When she places her thighs with her legs doubled on them upon her sides, and thus engages in congress, it is called the position of Indrani, and this is learnt only by practice. The position is also useful in the case of the "highest congress." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.12) tayoccatararatasyāpi parigrahaḥ// ### [2.6.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.13) saṃpuṭena pratigraho nīcarate// > The "clasping position" is used in "low congress," and in the "lowest congress," together with the pressing position," the "twining position," and the "mare's position." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.14) etena nīcatararate 'pi hastinyāḥ// ### [2.6.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.15) saṃpuṭakaṃ pīḍitakaṃ veṣṭitakaṃ vāḍavakam iti// ### [2.6.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.16) ṛjuprasāritāv ubhāv apy ubhayoś caraṇāv iti saṃpuṭaḥ// > When the legs of both the male and the female are stretched straight out over each other, it is called the "clasping position.". It is of two kinds, the side position and the supine position, according to the way in which they lie down. In the side position the male should invariably lie on his left side, and cause the woman to lie on her right side, and this rule is to be observed in lying down with all kinds of women. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.17) sa dvividhaḥ --- pārśvasaṃpuṭa uttānasaṃpuṭaś ca/ tathā karmayogāt/ ### [2.6.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.18) pārśveṇa tu śayāno dakṣiṇena nārīm adhiśayīteti sārvatrikam etat// ### [2.6.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.19) saṃpuṭakaprayuktayantreṇaiva dṛḍham ūrū pīḍayed iti pīḍitakam// > When, after congress has begun in the clasping position, the woman presses her lover with her thighs, it is called the "pressing position." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.20) ūrū vyatyasyed iti veṣṭitakam// > When the woman places one of her thighs across the thigh of her lover, it is called the "twining position," > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.21) vaḍaveva niṣṭhuram avagṛhṇīyād iti vāḍavakam ābhyāsikam// > When the woman forcibly holds in her yoni the lingam after it is in, it is called the "mare's position." This is learnt by practice only, and is chiefly found among the women of the Andra country. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.22) tadāndhrīṣu prāyeṇa/ iti saṃveśanaprakārā bābhravīyāḥ// > The above are the different ways of lying down, mentioned by Babhravya; Suvarnanabha, however, gives the following in addition. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.23) sauvarṇanābhās tu/ ### [2.6.24](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.24) ubhāv apy ūrū ūrdhvāv iti tad bhugnakam// > When the female raises both of her thighs straight up, it is called the "rising position." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.25](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.25) caraṇāv ūrdhvaṃ nāyako 'syā dhārayed iti jṛmbhitakam// > When she raises both of her legs, and places them on her lover's shoulders, it is called the "yawning position." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.26](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.26) tat kuñcitāv utpīḍitakam// > When the legs are contracted, and thus held by the lover before his bosom, it is called the "pressed position." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.27) tad ekasmin prasārite 'rdhapīḍitakam// > When only one of her legs is stretched out, it is called the "half-pressed position > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.28) nāyakasyāṃsa eko dvitīyakaḥ prasārita iti punaḥ punar vyatyāsena veṇudāritakam// > When the woman places one of her legs on her lovers' shoulder, and stretches the other out, and then places the latter on his shoulder, and stretches out the other, and continues to do so alternately, it is called the "splitting of a bamboo." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.29) ekaḥ śirasa upari gacched dvitīyaḥ prasārita iti śūlacitakam ābhyāsikam// > When one of her legs is placed on the head, and the other is stretched out, it is called the "fixing of a nail." This is learnt by practice only. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.30) saṃkucitau \*svabastideśe nidadhyād iti kārkaṭakam// > When both the legs of the woman are contracted, and placed on her stomach, it is called the "crab's position." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.31) ūrdhvāv ūrū vyatyasyed iti pīḍitakam// > When the thighs are raised and placed one upon the other, it is called the "packed position." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.32](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.32) jaṅghāvyatyāsena padmāsanavat// > When the shanks are placed one upon the other, it is called the "lotus-like position." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.33](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.33) pṛṣṭhaṃ pariṣvajamānāyāḥ parāṅmukheṇa parāvṛttakam ābhyāsikam// > When a man, during congress, turns round, and enjoys the woman without leaving her, while she embraces him round the back all the time, it is called the "turning position," and is learnt only by practice. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.34) jale ca saṃviṣṭopaviṣṭasthitātmakāṃś citrān yogān upalakṣayet/ tathā sukaratvād iti suvarṇanābhaḥ// > Thus, says Suvarnanabha, these different ways of lying down, sitting, and standing should be practiced in water, because it is easy to do so therein. But Vatsyayana is of opinion that congress in water is improper, because it is prohibited by the religious law. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.35) vārtaṃ tu tat/ śiṣṭair apasmṛtatvād iti vātsyāyanaḥ// ### [2.6.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.36) atha citraratāni// > When a man and a woman support themselves on each other's bodies, or on a wall, or pillar, and thus while standing engage in congress, it is called the "supported congress." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.37) ūrdhvasthitayor yūnoḥ parasparāpāśrayayoḥ kuḍyastambhāpāśritayor vā sthitaratam/ ### [2.6.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.38) kuḍyāpāśritasya kaṇṭhāvasaktabāhupāśāyās tad dhastapañjaropaviṣṭāyā ūrupāśena jaghanam abhiveṣṭayantyā kuḍye caraṇakrameṇa valantyā avalambitakaṃ ratam// > When a man supports himself against a wall, and the woman, sitting on his hands joined together and held underneath her, throws her arms round his neck, and putting her thighs alongside his waist, moves herself by her feet, which are touching the wall against which the man is leaning, it is called the "suspended congress." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.39](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.39) bhūmau vā catuṣpadavad āsthitāyā vṛṣalīlayāvaskandanaṃ dhenukam// > When a woman stands on her hands and feet like a quadruped, and her lover mounts her like a bull, it is called the "congress of a cow." At this time every thing that is ordinarily done on the bosom should be done on the back. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.40](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.40) tatra pṛṣṭham uraḥkarmāṇi labhate// ### [2.6.41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.41) etenaiva yogena śaunamaiṇeyaṃ chāgalaṃ gardabhākrāntaṃ mārjāralalitakaṃ vyāghrāvaskandanaṃ gajopamarditaṃ varāhaghṛṣṭakaṃ turagādhirūḍhakam iti yatra yatra viśeṣo yogo 'pūrvas tat tad upalakṣayet// > In the same way can be carried on the congress of a dog, the congress of a goat, the congress of a deer, the forcible mounting of an ass, the congress of a cat, the jump of a tiger, the pressing of an elephant, the rubbing of a boar, and the mounting of a horse. And in all these cases the chraacteristics of these different animals should be manifested by acting like them. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.42) miśrīkṛtasadbhāvābhyāṃ dvābhyāṃ saha saṃghāṭakaṃ ratam// > When a man enjoys two women at the same time, both of whom love him equally, it is called the "united congress." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.43](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.43) bahvībhiś ca saha goyūthikam// > When a man enjoys many women together, it is called the "congress of a herd of cows." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.44](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.44) vārikrīḍitakaṃ chāgalamaiṇeyam iti tat karmānukṛtiyogāt// > The following kinds of congress, viz., sporting in water, or the congress of an elephant with many female elephants which is said to take place only in the water, the congress of a collection of goats, the congress of a collection of deer, take place in imitation of these animals. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.45](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.45) grāmanāriviṣaye strīrājye ca bāhlīke bahavo yuvāno 'ntaḥpurasadharmāṇa ekaikasyāḥ parigrahabhūtāḥ/ > In Gramaneri many young men enjoy a woman that may be married to one of them, either one after the other, or at the same time. Thus one of them holds her, another enjoys her, a third uses her mouth, a fourth holds her middle part, and in this way they go on enjoying her several parts alternately. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.46](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.46) teṣām ekaikaśo yugapac ca yathāsātmyaṃ yathāyogaṃ ca rañjayeyuḥ// ### [2.6.47](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.47) eko dhārayed enām anyo niṣeveta/ anyo \*jaghanamukham anyo madhyam anya iti vāraṃ vāreṇa vyatikareṇa cānutiṣṭheyuḥ// ### [2.6.48](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.48) etayā goṣṭhīparigrahā veśyā rājayoṣā^\*parigrahaś ca vyākhyātaḥ// > The same things can be done when several men are sitting in company with one courtezan, or when one courtezan is alone with many men. In the same way this can be done by the women of the King's harem when they accidentally get hold of a man. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.49](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.49) aghorataṃ pāyāv api dākṣiṇātyānām/ iti citraratāni// > The people in the Southern countries have also a congress in the anus, that is called the "lower congress." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana > Thus end the various kinds of congress. There are also two verses on the subject as follows. > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.50](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.50) puruṣopasṛptakāni puruṣāyite vakṣyāmaḥ// bhavataś cātra ślokau --- ### [2.6.51](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.51) paśūnāṃ mṛgajātīnāṃ pataṅgānāṃ ca vibhramaiḥ/ tais tais upāyaiś cittajño ratiyogān vivardhayet// > "An ingenious person should multiply the kinds cf congress after the fashion of the different kinds of beasts and of birds. For these different kinds of congress, performed according to the usage of each country, and the liking of each individual, generate love, friendship, and respect in the hearts of women." > — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana ### [2.6.52](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6.52) tat sātmyād deśasātmyāc ca tais tair bhāvaiḥ prayojitaiḥ/ strīṇāṃ snehaś ca rāgaś ca bahumānaś ca jāyate// ## Translations (1) - [The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana~en-burton.2.6.p2) — Richard Francis Burton & Foster Fitzgerald Arbuthnot 1883, English ## Commentaries (1) - [Jayamaṅgalā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana!jayamangala.14.43) — Yaśodhara Indrapada, Sanskrit ## Other recensions (1) - [Text edited by Jean Fezas (with notes)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana*fezas.2.6) — Sanskrit ## Linked texts (2) - [Kāmakuñjalatā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.kamakunjalata.22.30) — Sanskrit - [History of Sanskrit Poetics](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.kane-1951.c6.36) — P. V. Kane, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.kama.vatsyayana.2.6) · Pramāṇa