Social Life in Ancient India: Studies in Vatsyayana's Kamasutra c8.116

c8.116

Vātsyāyana here enumerates the outward signs and actions by which a budding affection may be discovered, such as, she cannot look the man in the face, casts side-long glances at him and so on, all of which are quite true to nature.⁵ When the outward signs and movements leave no doubt about her love, he should grow less timid gradually, take greater and greater liberties with her without giving any offence⁶ and try to gain her over entirely by means of various tricks and devices that recommend themselves to young lovers in every clime. Vātsyāyana takes pains to describe them at some length and at last he again quotes Ghotakamukha to warn the young swain that he must be quick to read the signs that betray her passion, because even when love is far advanced success cannot be achieved with maidens by sloth and despondence and he can never expect a damsel to confess her love.¹