Social Life in Ancient India: Studies in Vatsyayana's Kamasutra c7.16

c7.16

The B r ā h m a ṇ a s he mentions several times and as receiving special respect. Blessings vouchsafed by good Brāhmaṇas are to be coveted by everyone, says Vātsyāyana, as a source of long life and renown¹. The gift of a thousand cows to Brāhmaṇas is considered to be one of the highest aims in life of a lady, even in the case of a courtesan when she is rich, although in her case the gift had to be made through a third person, as a direct gift by a fallen woman would not be acceptable to them. Even into the royal harem where the ladies were guarded against intrusion by any male person, the Brāhmaṇa had right of entry and could converse with them separated by a screen³. With regard to medical preparations for recovering health or restoring vigour, Vātsyāyana advises the use of those only that are approved of by friends and Brāhmaṇas⁴, the underlying idea in such recommendations being that the Brāhmaṇa was believed to be unselfish and honest.