[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The World of Courtesans](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973) › c7.42 # The World of Courtesans c7.42 The World of Courtesans c7.42 - **Language:** English ### [c7.42](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c7.42) Prostitutes were also employed to kidnap the military personnel and princes. \*Rupajivas\* were brought to the cities to act as spies under the Superintendent of the city (\*nagaraka-pranidhi\*). They were entitled to receive those whom they knew and only if they were certain of the places from where they came. Besides mentioning the \*ganikas\*, \*rupajivas\*, \*veshyas\* etc., who were professional prostitutes, Kautilya also mentions wives of actors (\*nata\*) dancers (\*nartaka\*), singers, instrumentalists, buffoons, bards, rope dancers (\*plavaka\*), jugglers (\*shaubhika\*), wandering bards, pimps etc , who lived on the income of a sort of demi-monde. - [Previous: c7.41](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c7.41) - [Next: c7.43](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c7.43) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c7.42](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.chandra-1973.c7.42) · Pramāṇa