The World of Courtesans c10.20

c10.20

In the meanwhile Vasantasena is told that Charudatta's friend, Maitreya, had come to see her. Maitreya's description of the quarters of Vasantasena pictures the grandeur in which some courtesans of the Gupta period lived. The stock description seems to have been borrowed from some common source as another version also appears in the *Brihatkathashlokasamgraha*. The maid points out to him the gateway (*gehadvaram*). Maitreya watches with admiration the lofty gateway which had just been sprayed and had just received a coat of green. On the threshold are heaped offerings of all sorts of fragrant flowers. The gateway is adorned with strings of jasmine garlands. It has a high ivory portal and is decorated with red holiday banners waving in the air. On both sides there are auspicious water pitchers decorated with green mango twigs, and set on the railings of the pillars that sustained the portal. He notices that the doors are of gold, studded with diamonds