[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The World of Courtesans](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973) › c4.46 # The World of Courtesans c4.46 The World of Courtesans c4.46 - **Language:** English ### [c4.46](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.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). - [Previous: c4.45](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c4.45) - [Next: c4.47](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c4.47) - [Up: c4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c4) ## Linked texts (6) - [Mānava Dharmaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.manu.4.209) — Manu & Bhṛgu, Sanskrit - [Yājñavalkyasmṛti](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.yajnavalkya.2.266) — Yājñavalkya, Sanskrit - [Gautamadharmasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vedanga.kalpa.dharma.gautama.22.27) — Gautama (dharmasūtrakāra), Sanskrit - [Bṛhaspatismṛti](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.uddhrta.brhaspati) — Bṛhaspati, Sanskrit - [Nāradasmṛti](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.narada) — Nārada, Sanskrit - [Parāśarasmṛti](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.parasara) — Parāśara, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c4.46](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c4.46) · Pramāṇa