- Time: 2600 -2500 BCE
- Place: Patliputra/Magadh [Modern Bihar]
- Language : Sanskrit
CHAPTER IV.
THE LIFE OF A CITIZEN.
Having thus acquired learning, a man, with the wealth that he may have gained by gift, conquest, purchase, deposit,or inheritance from his ancestors, should become a householder, and pass the life of a citizen. He should take a house in a city, or large village, or in the vicinity of good men, or in a place which is the resort of many persons. This abode should be situated near some water, and divided into different compartments for different purposes. It should be surrounded by a garden, and also contain two rooms, an outer and an inner one. The inner room should be occupied by the females, while the outer room, balmy with rich perfumes, should contain a bed, soft, agreeable to the sight covered with a clean white cloth, low in the middle part, having garlands and bunches of flowers upon it, and a canopy above it, and two pillows, one at the top, another at the bottom. There should be also a sort of couch besides, and at the head of this a sort of stool, on which should be placed the fragrant ointments for the night, as well as flowers, pots containing collyrium and other fragrant substances, things used for perfuming the mouth, and the bark of the common citron tree. Near the couch, on the ground, there should be a pot for spitting, a box containing ornaments, and also a lute hanging from a peg made of the tooth of an elephant, a board for drawing, a pot containing perfume, some books, and some garlands of the yellow amaranth flowers. Not far from the couch, and on the ground, there should be a round seat, a toy cart, and a board for playing with dice; outside the outer room there should be cages of birds,and a separate place for spinning, carving, and such like diversions. In the garden there should be a whirling swing and a common swing, as also a bower of creepers covered with flowers, in which a raised parterre should be made for sitting.
Now the householder having got up in the morning and performed his necessary duties, should wash his teeth, apply a limited quantity of ointments and perfumes to his body, put some ornaments on his person and collyrium on his eyelids and below his eyes, colour his lips with alacktaka, and look at himself in the glass. Having then eaten betel leaves, with other things that give fragrance to the mouth, he should perform his usual business. He should bathe daily, anoint his body with oil every other day, apply a lathering substance to his body every three days, get his head (including face) shaved every four days, and the other parts of his body every five or ten days. All these things should be done without fail, and the sweat of the armpits should also be removed. Meals should be taken in the forenoon, in the afternoon, and again at night, according to Charayana. After breakfast, parrots and other birds should be taught to speak, and the fighting of cocks, quails, and rams should follow. A limited time should be devoted to diversions with Pithamardas, Vitas, and Vidushakas, and then should be taken the midday sleep. After this the householder, having put on his clothes and ornaments, should, during the afternoon, converse with his friends. In the evening there should be singing, and after that the householder, along with his friend, should await in his room, previously decorated and perfumed, the arrival of the woman that may be attached to him, or he may send a female messenger for her, or go for her himself. After her arrival at his house, he and his friend should welcome her, and entertain her with a loving and agreeable conversation. Thus end the duties of the day.
The following are the things to be done occasionally as diversions or amusements.
- Holding festivals in honour of different Deities.
- Social gatherings of both sexes.
- Drinking parties.
- Picnics.
- Other social diversions and Festivals.
On some particular auspicious day, an assembly of citizens should be convened in the temple of Saraswati[पक्षस्य मासस्य वा प्रज्ञाते -अहनि सरस्वत्या भवने नियुक्तानां नित्यं समाजः]. There the skill of singers, and of others who may have come recently to the town, should be tested, and on the following day they should always be given some rewards. After that they may either be retained or dismissed, according as their performances are liked or not by the assembly. The members of the assembly should act in concert, both in times of distress as well as in times of prosperity, and it is also the duty of these citizens to show hospitality to strangers who may have come to the assembly. What is said above should be understood to apply to all the other festivals which may be held in honour of the different Deities, according to the present rules.
Social Gatherings.
When men of the same age, disposition and talents, fond of the same diversions and with the same degree of education, sit together in company with public women, or in an assembly of citizens, or at the abode of one among themselves, and engage in agreeable discourse with each other, such is called a sitting in company or a social gathering. The subjects of discourse are to be the completion of verses half composed by others, and the testing the knowledge of one another in the various arts. The women who may be the most beautiful, who may like the same things that the men like, and who may have power to attract the minds of others, are here done homage to.
Drinking Parties.
Men and women should drink in one another’s houses. And here the men should cause the public women to drink, and should then drink themselves, liquors such as the Madhu, Aireya, Sara, and Asawa, which are of bitter and sour taste; also drinks concocted from the barks of various trees, wild fruits and leaves.
Going to Gardens or Picnics.
In the forenoon, men, having dressed themselves should go to gardens on horseback, accompanied by public women and followed by servants. And having done there all the duties of the day, and passed the time in various agreeable diversions, such as the fighting of quails, cocks and rams, and other spectacles, they should return home in the afternoon in the same manner, bringing with them bunches of flowers, &c.
The same also applies to bathing in summer in water from which wicked or dangerous animals have previously been taken out, and which has been built in on all sides.
Other Social Diversions.
Spending nights playing with dice. Going out on moonlight nights. Keeping the festive day in honour of spring. Plucking the sprouts and fruits of the mangoe trees. Eating the fibres of lotuses. Eating the tender ears of corn. Picnicing in the forests when the trees get their new foliage. The Udakakashvedika or sporting in the water. Decorating each other with the flowers of some trees. Pelting each other with the flowers of the Kadamba tree, and many other sports which may either be known to the whole country, or may be peculiar to particular parts of it. These and similar other amusements should always be carried on by citizens.
The above amusements should be followed by a person who diverts himself alone in company with a courtesan, as well as by a courtesan who can do the same in company with her maid servants or with citizens.
A Pithamarda is a man without wealth, alone in the world, whose only property consists of his Mallika, some lathering, substance and a red cloth, who comes from a good country, and who is skilled in all the arts; and by teaching these arts is received in the company of citizens, and in the abode of public women.
A Vita is a man who has enjoyed the pleasures of fortune, who is a compatriot of the citizens with whom he associates, who is possessed of the qualities of a householder, who has his wife with him, and who is honoured in the assembly of citizens, and in the abodes of public women, and lives on their means and on them.
A Vidushaka (also called a Vaihasaka, i.e., one who provokes laughter) is a person only acquainted with some of the arts who is a jester, and who is trusted by all.
These persons are employed in matters of quarrels and reconciliations between citizens and public women.
This remark applies also to female beggars, to women with their heads shaved, to adulterous women, and to old public women skilled in all the various arts.
Thus a citizen living in his town or village, respected by all, should call on the persons of his own caste who may be worth knowing. He should converse in company and gratify his friends by his society, and obliging others by his assistance in various matters, he should cause them to assist one another in the same way.
There are some verses on this subject as follows:—
A citizen discoursing, not entirely in the Sanskrit language, nor wholly in the dialects of the country, on various topics in society, obtains great respect. The wise should not resort to a society disliked by the public, governed by no rules, and intent on the destruction of others. But a learned man living in a society which acts according to the wishes of the people, and which has pleasure for its only object is highly respected in this world.
नागरकवृत्तम्–
१.४.१- गृहीतविद्यः प्रतिग्रहजयक्रयनिर्वेशअधिगतैर् अर्थैर् अन्वयआगतैर् उभयैर् वा गार्हस्थ्यम् अधिगम्य नागरकवृत्तं वर्तेत//
१.४.२- नगरे पत्तने खर्वटे महति वा सज्जनआश्रये स्थानम्/ यात्रावशाद् वा//
१.४.३- तत्र भवनम् आसन्नौदकं वृक्षवाटिकावद् विभक्तकर्मकक्षं द्विवासगृहं कारयेत्//(- ४४)
१.४.४- बाह्ये च वासगृहे सुश्लक्ष्णम् उभयौपधानं मध्ये विनतं शुक्लौत्तरच्छदं शयनीयं स्यात्/ प्रतिशय्यिका च/ तस्य शिरोभागे कूर्चस्थानम्, वेदिका च/ तत्र रात्रिशेषम् अनुलेपनं माल्यं सिक्थकरण्डकं सौगन्धिकपुटिका मातुलुङ्गत्वचस् ताम्बूलानि च स्युः/ भूमौ पतद्ग्रहः/ नागदन्तअवसक्ता वीणा/चित्रफलकम्/ वर्तिकासमुद्गकः/ यः कश्चित् पुस्तकः/ कुरण्टकमालाश् च/ नातिदूरे भूमौ वृत्तआस्तरणं समस्तकम्/ आकर्षफलकं द्यूतफलकं च/ तस्य बहिः क्रीडाशकुनिपञ्जराणि/ एकान्ते च तक्षतक्षणस्थानम् अन्यासां च क्रीडानाम्/ स्वास्तीर्णा प्रेङ्खादोला वृक्षवाटिकायां सप्रच्छाया/ स्थण्डिलपीठिका च सकुसुमेति भवनविन्यासः//(- ४५)
१.४.५- स प्रातर् उत्थाय कृतनियतकृत्यः, गृहीतदन्तधावनः, मात्रयाअनुलेपनं धूपं स्रजम् इति च गृहीत्वा, दत्त्वा सिक्थकम् अलक्तकं च, दृष्ट्वाआदर्शे मुखम्, गृहीतमुखवासताम्बूलः, कार्याण्य् अनुतिष्ठेत्//(- ४७)
१.४.६- नित्यं स्नानम्/ द्वितीयकम् उत्सादनम्/ तृतीयकः फेनकः/ चतुर्थकम् आयुष्यम्/ पञ्चमकं दशमकं वा प्रत्यायुष्यम् इत्य् अहीनम्/ सातत्याच् च संवृतकक्षास्वेदअपनोदः/
१.४.७- पूर्वाह्णअपराह्णयोर् भोजनम्/ सायं चारायणस्य/
१.४.८- भोजनअनन्तरं शुकसारिकाप्रलापनव्यापाराः/ लावक कुक्कटअन्यत्र : कुक्कुट-मेषयुद्धानि/ तास् ताश् च कलाक्रीडाः/ पीठमर्दविटविदूषकआयत्ता व्यापाराः/ दिवाशय्या च/
१.४.९- गृहीतप्रसाधनस्यअपराह्णे गोष्ठीविहाराः/
१.४.१०- प्रदोषे च संगीतकानि/ तद् अन्ते च प्रसाधिते वासगृहे संचारितसुरभिधूपे ससहायस्य शय्यायाम् अभिसारिकाणां प्रतीक्षणम्,
१.४.११- दूतीनां प्रेषणम्, स्वयं वा गमनम्/
१.४.१२- आगतानां च मनोहरैर् आलापैर् उपचारैश् च ससहायस्यौपक्रमाः/
१.४.१३- वर्षप्रमृष्टने पथ्यानां दुर्दिनाअभिसारिकाणां स्वयम् एव पुनर् मण्डनम्, मित्रजनेन वा परिचरणम् इत्य् आहोरात्रिकम्//(- ४८)
१.४.१४-
- घटानिबन्धनम्,
- गोष्ठीसमवायः,
- समापानकम्,
- उद्यानगमनम्,
- समस्याः क्रीडाश् च प्रवर्तयेत्/
१.४.१५- पक्षस्य मासस्य वा प्रज्ञाते -अहनि सरस्वत्या भवने नियुक्तानां नित्यं समाजः/
१.४.१६- कुशीलवाश् चआगन्तवः प्रेक्षणकम् एषां दद्युः/ द्वितीये +अहनि तेभ्यः पूजा नियतं लभेरन्/ ततो यथाश्रद्धम् एषां दर्शनम् उत्सर्गो वा/ व्यसनौत्सवेषु चएषां परस्परस्यएककार्यता/
१.४.१७- आगन्तूनां च कृतसमवायानां पूजनम् अभ्युपपत्तिश् च/ इति गणधर्मः/
१.४.१८- एतेन तं तं देवताविशेषम् उद्दिश्य संभावितस्थितयो घटा व्याख्याताः//(- ५१)
१.४.१९- वेश्याभवने सभायाम् अन्यतमस्य*उदवसितेअन्यत्र : ुद्वसिते- वा समानविद्याबुद्धिशीलवित्तवयसां सह वेश्याभिर् अनुरूपैर् आलापैर् आसनबन्धो गोष्ठी/
१.४.२०- तत्र चएषां काव्यसमस्या कलासमस्या वा/
१.४.२१- तस्याम् उज्ज्वला लोककान्ताः पूज्याः/ प्रीतिसमानाश् *चाहारिताःअन्यत्र : चाहारितः-//(- ५३)
१.४.२२- परस्परभवनेषु चआपानकानि//(- ५३)
१.४.२३- तत्र मधुमैरेयसुराआसवान् विविधलवणफलहरितशाकतिक्तकटुक(- ५३)अम्लौपदंशान् वेश्याः पाययेयुर् अनुपिबेयुश् च/
१.४.२४- एतेनौद्यानगमनं व्याख्यातम्//(- ५४)
१.४.२५- पूर्वाह्ण एव स्वलंकृतास् तुरगअधिरूढा वेश्याभिः सह परिचारकअनुगता गच्छेयुः/ दैवसिकीं च यात्रां तत्रअनुभूय कुक्कुटयुद्धद्यूतैः प्रेक्षाभिर् अनुकूलैश् च चेष्टितैः कालं गमयित्वा अपराह्णे गृहीततदुद्यानौपभोगचिह्नास् तथाएव प्रत्याव्रजेयुः/
१.४.२६- एतेन रचितौद्ग्राहौदकानां ग्रीष्मे जलक्रीडागमनं व्याख्यातम्//(- ५४)
१.४.२७- यक्षरात्रिः/ कौमुदीजागरः/ सुवसन्तकः//(- ५५)
१.४.२८- सहकारभञ्जिका, अभ्यूषखादिका, विसखादिका, नवपत्रिका, उदकक्ष्वेडिका, पाञ्चालअनुयानम्, एकशाल्मली, कदम्बयुद्धानि, तास् ताश् च माहिमान्यो देश्याश् च क्रीडा जनेभ्यो विशिष्टम् आचरेयुः/ इति संभूय क्रीडाः//(- ५६)
१.४.२९- एकचारिणश् च विभवसामर्थ्याद्
१.४.३०- गणिकाया नायिकायाश् च सखीभिर् नागरकैश् च सह चरितम् एतेन व्याख्यातम्//(- ५७)
१.४.३१- अविभवस् तु शरीरमात्रो मल्लिकाफेनककषायमात्रपरिच्छदः पूज्याद् (- ५७)देशाद् आगतः कलासु विचक्षणस् तदुपदेशेन गोष्ठ्यां वेशौचिते च वृत्ते साधयेद् आत्मानम् इति पीठमर्दः//(- ५८)
१.४.३२- भुक्तविभवस् तु गुणवान् सकलत्रो वेशे गोष्ठ्यां च बहुमतस् तद् उपजीवी च विटः//(- ५८)
१.४.३३- एकदेशविद्यस् तु क्रीडनको विश्वास्यश् च विदूषकः/ वैहासिको वा/
१.४.३४- एते वेश्यानां नागरकाणां च मन्त्रिणः संधिविग्रहनियुक्ताः//(- ५९)
१.४.३५- तैर् भिक्षुक्यः कलाविदग्धा मुण्डा वृषल्यो वृद्धगणिकाश् च व्याख्याताः//(- ५९)
१.४.३६- ग्रामवासी च सजातान् विचक्षणान् कौतूहलिकान् प्रोत्साह्य नागरकजनस्य वृत्तं वर्णयञ् श्रद्धां च जनयंस् तद् एवअनुकुर्वीत/ गोष्ठीश् च प्रवर्तयेत्/ संगत्या जनम् अनुरञ्जयेत्/ कर्मसु च साहाय्येन चअनुगृह्णीयात्/ उपकारयेच् च/ इति नागरकवृत्तम्//(- ५९)
नअत्यन्तं संस्कृतेन एव नअत्यन्तं देशभाषया – कथां गोष्ठीषु कथयंल् लोके बहुमतो भवेत्//
या गोष्ठी लोकविद्विष्टा या च स्वैरविसर्पिणी- परहिंसाआत्मिका या च न ताम् अवतरेद् बुधः//
लोकचित्तअनुवर्तिन्या क्रीडामात्रएककार्यया- गोष्ठ्या सहचरन् विद्वांल् लोके सिद्धिं नियच्छति//(- ६०)
Source :- Vatsyayana Kamasutram [Sanskrit]
