The World of Courtesans c5.2

c5.2

VEDIC LITERATURE DOES not offer us abundant source material for a reconstruction of the social history of India. Extracting information from mere words is an arduous etymological exercise, and besides, interpretations often lack general acceptance. On the contrary, Buddhist literature, though verbose and repetitious, yields valuable data about the social institutions of ancient India. The virtues and failings of people are recorded in stories and parables which form an integral part of Indian literature. The picture which they paint of the urban culture, of the flourishing cities, of the time peopled by men of all castes and professions, merchants, shopkeepers, rulers and their officers is both real and convincing.