A History of Indian Literature v3.c35.s13.26

v3.c35.s13.26

The Daśakumāracarita is of great interest for cultural history. In particular we get an insight into the life and activities of unworthy people, rogues, buffoons, thieves, gamblers, and harlots. We see here amongst others a presentation of buffoons, over whose head stands a Brāhmaṇa. Here we are able to know about the life in a gambling den and we can see the practices of a poison-doctor being ridiculed. We find here described the fight of cocks and a detailed picture of the ball-dance of a princess. We obtain a thorough knowledge about the condition of life of harlots. The profession of harlots is as ordained by the creator and is under the protection of the king. The story of Nimbavatī in chapter VI throws remarkable sidelight on sexual relationships and on the position of women in society. The story of Vīrabhadra in chapter VIII is important (also for the history of nītiśāstra), where the daily course of king’s life is described more minutely and in apparent agreement with the Kauṭilīya-Arthaśāstra.