The World of Courtesans c11.3

c11.3

Lalitāpīḍa, the son and successor of Jayāpīḍa was, according to the *Rājataraṅgiṇī*, a slave to his passions; he did not attend to his royal duties. He enjoyed the company of courtesans, and squandered away riches on buffoons and parasites (vitas) who gained a foothold in the royal palace through their close contacts with courtesans (bandhakībandhubhavana). They initiated the king in the arts of whoredom. Whoever was well-versed in stories of courtesans and clever at jesting became his friend, but he never sought the friendship of a valiant man or a scholar. The parasites, who hurt modest old men by their jests and thus kept them away, earned his affection and received presents from him. "Clever, like a market-slave, at open mockery, he, with his company of courtesans, made the old among the councillors feel ashamed in his audience hall. He in his wickedness made councillors who were worthy of respect, dress themselves in pretty cloaks and other garments which bore the footprints of courtesans."