The World of Courtesans c5.37

c5.37

After the acceptance of her terms by the *Gana*, Amrapali became a courtesan and began receiving the Lichchhavi clients. Some of them were such wretches that to see or touch them was obnoxious to her. She found that some of her clients were impotent. She, however, seems to have been a psychologist of some sort, for to assess her clients she hit upon a clever device. She invited painters from all over the country and asked them to paint realistic portraits of kings, ministers, bankers, merchants etc., on the walls of the picture gallery of her mansion. After the portraits were completed she inspected them and on this basis chose her clients She was impressed by king Bimbisara of Magadha. She thought he was a man fit to consort with her.