The World of Courtesans c5.16

c5.16

The *Sulasa Jataka*, recounts the infatuation of a courtesan for a robber. Sulasa, a renowned courtesan of Banaras, lived with five hundred slave girls in her train. She charged a thousand pieces per night from her customers. Her story is practically the same as that of Sama. But unlike Sama, Sulasa was a woman of wisdom and courage. Her robber lover, after living happily with her for a few months, decided to steal her ornaments and leave her. One day, under the pretext of offering a sacrifice to a tree deity, he persuaded Sulasa to deck herself with ornaments and to come with him. When they reached the top of a mountain where the tree was situated, he threatened to kill and rob her. Fearing for her life, she reminded him of the good she had done him and promised to give him all her ornaments if he spared her life. But the robber was determined to carry out his nefarious design. Sulasa was very resourceful. Under the pretext of a last embrace she pushed him down to his death from the hill top and then returned to the city.