The World of Courtesans c5.4

c5.4

The *Jatakas* condemn women and their wickedness. A woman approves of her husband's absence from home and is not pleased at his return. She speaks ill of him, and is silent when he is praised. She neglects his interests and performs acts that are not at all to his liking. She sleeps by his side fully clothed, with her face averted; she changes her sides frequently, frets, sighs and tries to leave the bed. She listens to perverse advice and does not mind squandering her husband's wealth to gain a new lover. She builds intimate ties with her neighbour, walks along the streets, exposing herself to the glances of passers by and stands at the door looking aimlessly at the scene on the street. She insults her husband. As a matter of fact the characteristics of a wicked woman mentioned in the *Jatakas* are the same as those indicated in the *Kamasutra* of Vatsyayana. According to the *Jatakas* there are eight reasons why a woman despises her husband: poverty, sickness, old age, habitual drunkenness, recklessness, dullness, overwork and the lack of a sense of obligation. A wife is to be condemned if she frequents parks, gardens and river banks, and pays frequent visits to the houses of relatives or strangers, if she wears a smart vest-cloth, if she is addicted to strong drinks and if she stares vacantly at the scene outside the house, standing at her own door.