The World of Courtesans c4.23

c4.23

The *Matsya Purana* is, however, more explicit about the origin and conduct of courtesans. It is related that once Brahma asked Shiva whether he had any knowledge of the rules prescribed for the conduct of prostitutes (*panyastri*). In this connection Shiva related to Brahma the story of Krishna and his sixteen thousand *gopis*. Once it so happened that in the spring, amidst the songs of *koels* and the humming of black bees, the wives of Krishna sat on the bank of a lotus-pond enjoying a wine party (*apana-goshthi*). There they became enamoured of *Shamba* who happened to be passing by, and for their waywardness Krishna cursed them with rape by robbers, and a state of slavery from which they would only be released by the *rishi* Dalbhya. Later, when Krishna was killed by the Abhira robbers, his sixteen thousand wives were carried away by them and forced to lead a life of shame. When they encountered the sage Dalbhya, they said "Sir, we have been forcibly raped by the robbers and have lost our virtue. Please tell us why we have been reduced to lead a life of shame." When they asked him what the rightful conduct for courtesans was, Dalbhya replied with another story