The World of Courtesans c11.154

c11.154

In the Fifth Chapter of the *Deshopadesha*, it is the *vita* who faces the full blast of Kshemendra's devastating wit. The *vita* is poor and worthless. Yet he is a connoisseur of the arts, sex, anger; fights and consorting with other people's wives are his chief virtues. The courtesan frowns on him; he is prone to chop off the nose of the bawd. He is not tired of wandering all over the city and though he is often ridiculed, he refuses to leave the courtesan's house Though he often goes without a meal he poses to be rich. He wears winter clothes in summer and *vice versa*. He arranges his head cover in the shape of a serpent hood, his beard flutters in the air and while eating his pan he abuses people. Though he lives in a mean hut of Khasas he affects the fashion of a man from Karnataka. The old and superstitious *vita* is poor and forlorn He wanders about in tattered clothes