The World of Courtesans c5.34

c5.34

The *Gana* was summoned and Mahanama addressed it thus: "Hear me you Brahmans, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, in my garden was born a girl, she was adopted and nurtured by me. Now I am in search of a suitable match from a good family for her." The *Gana* informed him that according to the rules framed by them an independent (*anirvaha*) beautiful girl (*striratnam*) was for the pleasure of the entire *Gana*. Mahanama was then asked by the *Gana* to produce Amrapali before the *Gana* and he did so. Her beauty dazzled all the members of the *Gana* and they proclaimed unanimously that she was the preserve of the entire *Gana* and therefore, the question of marrying her to any one person did not arise.