The World of Courtesans c4.46

c4.46

The *Smritis* make thieves and other criminals the constant companions of public women. *Yajnavalkya* ii. 266 enumerates as one of the four tokens by which the police could trace a criminal, that of living in a house of ill fame (*ashuddha vasaka*). In the list of tricksters a harlot is placed in the company of such low characters as gamblers and other goondas (Narada and *Parashara Smritis* 2 and 3: *Manu*. X. 256 ff.). *Brih.* XXII. 9 enjoins swift punishment to gamesters and harlots. *Gautama*. XXII. 27 is stern enough to lay down the rule that the slaying of a woman belonging to all merits no punishment. *Manu*. IV. 209 says that the Brahmans must not accept food offered by a prostitute, and he also stipulates that a deceitful harlot is to be punished with death (*Manu*, IX. 259).