The World of Courtesans c11.72

c11.72

The house of Manmathasena flourished because of the favour of Simharaja who had looted a whole village for her. Nandasena, son of the chief of Bhattis, robbed everybody and handed over the loot to Shivadevi. The Pasupata teacher Bhavashuddha had built a palace for her beloved Anangadevi The king can hardly manage to get a paltry one-fourth of the tax on merchandize because Narmada, the mistress of Ramasena, the Superintendent of Markets grabs most of it. The bawd admonishes her for making fun of the impotent Prabhusvami Ravideva accepted him for he was a favourite of the king The bawd deliberately mentions the lover who is in the room "How has this worthless fellow managed to get a hold on you?" She asks her, "Has he employed a charm? Is he a sorcerer?" She advises her, "A prostitute is unfit for sex life in childhood and in old age, and if she goes and falls in love when she is still young she is bound to end up begging "