The World of Courtesans c4.39

c4.39

King Kushika on his return to his capital after undergoing a heavy trial of patience was received by the army and the people, including courtesans (*M.B.* XIII. 53, 65-66). Shuka, when he came to the court of the great philosopher Janaka Videha, was taken by a minister to the third walled court of the royal chamber and there left in a pleasure grove. "To him came running up quite fifty pleasure-girls, splendidly dressed, fair-hipped, young and tender, sweet to gaze on, wearing thin red garments, decked with gleaming gold, well versed in speech and honeyed words, skilled in dance and song, smiling, gifted with the knowledge of the heart's stirrings." They washed his feet and marked him for the highest honour. They served him good food and after he had finished, they showed him the enchanting pleasure-wood. They played and they laughed and offered him a couch, but the young sage was not moved (*M.B.* XII. 325, 33 ff.).