The World of Courtesans c13.23

c13.23

The king had a large number of mistresses (*avarodhavadhu*) who were not only accomplished dancers, and musicians but also knew the mind of their master. The courtesans employed by the king had to be young, beautiful and coquettish. They were properly rewarded by the king. They received gifts of precious jewellery, clothes, garlands, unguents, conveyances, seats, houses and so on. They amused their masters with their coquetry, jokes, sports, pleasantries. The courtesan, when she invited him to dally with her, spoke to him sweetly. Courtesans were also employed to serve food. They worked as bathroom attendants, applied unguents, and prepared scents. They were shampooers and hair dressers They could sing and dance well and joined the king in water sport