The World of Courtesans c8.132

c8.132

*Pithamarda* (a friend of the *nagaraka*) was so poor that he could hardly play the role of the *nagaraka*. He was lonely and childless and roamed from one place to another in search of some means of livelihood. He carried a crook (*mallikasana*) on his back to serve him as a seat, a wood roller (*phenaka*), unguent for shampooing his thighs, and made it a point to approach the rich and receive money from them. His strong point, however, was his ready wit, and relying on his advice, his *nagaraka* friends acquitted themselves very well in the *goshthis* and in matters relating to courtesans.