The World of Courtesans c8.8

c8.8

In defining the goal of life, Vatsyayana follows the usual dictum: in childhood the pursuit of knowledge leading to the acquisition of wealth; in youth the pursuit of love and in old age *dharma* and final emancipation. For the fulfilment of the amorous desires of youth, money was a necessity. Vatsyayana advises people to earn money by all rightful means. Acquisition of knowledge, of fields for agriculture, of gold, cattle, grain and household effects such as utensils, furniture etc., of friends, and in addition to this the increase of capital through investments constituted wealth. *Kama* has been divided into two categories—*samanya* and *vishesha*. The *samanya* is born of sympathetic feeling and understanding, and the *vishesha* type, where sensory organs are concerned, consists of sexual embraces, kissing and other forms of love-making.