The Complete Kama Sutra : The First Unabridged Modern Translation of the Classic Indian Text

561 Pages·1994·1.63 MB·English

by  Alain Danielou

The
COMPLETE
K A MA SUTRA
The First
Unabridged
Modern
Translation
of the
Classic
Indian Text
Translated by.
ALAIN DANIELOU
"Danielou's new and complete translation of the Kama Sutra is 5ne
of his masterpieces. It is all enchantment, a world of refined sensa
tion totally without humbug. Our debt to his scholarship and
humanity is immeasurable."
The Times Literary Supplement
"Dildo was translated as 'medicine.' Lesbian was just 'corrupt
woman.' No wonder we couldn't follow any of the instructions in
the Kama Sutra. But now, there's a new translation of the oldest sex
manual, the first since the Victorians brought it home and hid it
under the mattress."
The Guardian
"Alain Danielou is the foremost living interpreter of Hinduism. His
books are remarkable for their clarity, scholarship, and uninhibited
celebration of erotic and mystical ecstasy."
Interview Magazine
PARK STREET PRESS
R O C H E S T ER • V E R M O NT
The
COMPLETE
KAMA SUTRA
Also by Alain Danielou
(in English)
Gods of Love and Ecstasy: The Traditions of Shiva
and Dionysus
Inner Traditions International, Rochester, Vermont, 1992
Manimekhalai: The Dancer with the Magic Bowl
Merchant-Prince Shattan, translated from the Tamil by Alain
Danielou and T. V. Gopala Iyer, New Directions, New York, 1989
Myths and Gods of India
Inner Traditions International, Rochester, Vermont, 1991
The Ragas of Northern Indian Music
Reprint, Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi, 1980
Shilappadikaram (The Ankle Bracelet)
Prince Ilango Adigal, translated from the Tamil,
New Directions, New York, 1965
Virtue, Success, Pleasure, and Liberation:
The Four Aims of Life in the Tradition of Ancient India
Inner Traditions International, Rochester, Vermont, 1993
The Way to the Labyrinth: Memories of East and West
New Directions, New York, 1987
While the Gods Play: Shaiva Oracles and Predictions on the
Cycles of History and the Destiny of Mankind
Inner Traditions International, Rochester, Vermont, 1987
Yoga: Mastering the Secrets of Matter and the Universe
Inner Traditions International, Rochester, Vermont, 1991
The
COMPLETE
KAMA SUTRA
The First Unabridged Modern Translation
of the Classic Indian Text by Vatsyayana
including the Jayamangala commentary
from the Sanskrit by Yashodhara
and extracts from the Hindi commentary
by Devadatta Shastra
Translated by
ALAIN DANIELOU
Prepared with the help of Kenneth Hurry
Park Street Press
Rochester, Vermont
Park Street Press
One Park Street
Rochester, Vermont 05767
Translation copyright © 1994 by Alain Danielou
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Vatsyayana.
[Kamasutra. English]
The complete Kama Sutra: the first unabridged modern translation of the
classic Indian text / translated by Alain Danielou.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 0-89281-492-6
1. Love. 2. Sex. I. Danielou, Alain. II. Title.
HQ470.S3V313 1993b
306.7 - dc20 93-31474
CIP
Printed and bound in the United States
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 21
Text design by Charlotte Tyler
Park Street Press is a division of Inner Traditions International
Distributed to the book trade in the United States by American
International Distribution Corporation (AIDC)
Distributed to the book trade in Canada by Publishers Group West, Montreal
West, Quebec
Distributed to the book trade in the United Kingdom by
Deep Books, London
Distributed to the book trade in Australia by
Millennium Books, Newtown, N. S. W.
CONTENTS
Editor's Note vii
Introduction by Alain Danielou 1
Part One
GENERAL REMARKS
Chapter One: Contents of the Book 15
Chapter Two: The Three Aims of Life 25
Chapter Three: The Acquisition of Knowledge 45
Chapter Four: The Conduct of the Well-bred Townsman 57
Chapter Five: Reflections on Intermediaries Who
Assist the Lover in His Enterprises 7A
Part Two
AMOROUS ADVANCES
Chapter One: Stimulation of Erotic Desire 89
Chapter Two: Embraces 106
Chapter Three: Petting and Caresses 119
Chapter Four: The Art of Scratching 132
Chapter Five: Biting 139
Chapter Six: On Copulation and Special Tastes 145
Chapter Seven: Blows and Sighs 159
Chapter Eight: Virile Behavior in Women 168
Chapter Nine: Superior Coition or Fellation 183
Chapter Ten: Preludes and Conclusions to
the Game of Love 197
Part Three
ACQUIRING A WIFE
Chapter One: Forms of Marriage 217
Chapter Two: How to Relax the Girl 229
Chapter Three: Ways of Obtaining the Girl 239
Chapter Four: How to Manage Alone 251
Chapter Five: Union by Marriage 263
Part Four
DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES OF THE WIFE
Chapter One: Conduct of the Only Wife 277
Chapter Two: Conduct of the Chief Wife and Other Wives 289
Part Five
OTHER MEN'S WIVES
Chapter One: Behavior of Woman and Man 309
Chapter Two: Encounters to Get Acquainted 327
Chapter Three: Examination of Sentiments 337
Chapter Four: The Task of the Go-between 345
Chapter Five: The King's Pleasures 365
Chapter Six: Behavior in the Gynoecium 376
Part Six
ABOUT COURTESANS
Chapter One: Advice of the Assistants on
the Choice of Lovers 391
Chapter Two: Looking for a Steady Lover 405
Chapter Three: Ways of Making Money 422
Chapter Four: Renewing Friendship with
a Former Lover 438
Chapter Five: Occasional Profits 452
Chapter Six: Profits and Losses: Reflections on Doubts
Concerning the Advantages and Disadvantages
of Relations 469
Part Seven
OCCULT PRACTICES
Chapter One: Success in Love 489
Chapter Two: Arousing a Weakened Sexual Power 508
APPENDICES
One: Texts Quoted 531
Two: Mythical and Historical Characters and Authors
Mentioned in the Text 533
Three: Works Consulted 536
Four: Glossary I: Plants, Herbs, Spices, and
Sundry Products 537
Five: Glossary II: Special Terms 545
Index 549
About the Translator 563
EDITOR'S NOTE
As Alain Danielou observes in his Introduction, the Sanskrit text of
the Kama Sutra and its commentaries frequently use familiar terms,
like yoga, tantra, and upanisbad, in highly unusual and technical senses.
Because of the inherent interest of this terminology and because of
the Kama Sutra's rich vocabulary, this edition cites an extensive list of
Sanskrit words and phrases and features several appendices, which we
hope will be of use to specialist and nonspecialist alike.
Since this edition is intended to be accessible to all readers, we
have adopted an informal Sanskrit transcription style. Except for the
use of the macron to mark long vowels, we have avoided the use of
diacritical marks. Thus, we have preferred kshira, rishi, or shruti, which
seem more easily recognizable for an English-speaking audience than
their more technical equivalents. For the same reason, we have chosen
to use achara and acharya to indicate pronunciation, instead of the
alternate spellings acara and acarya. We also have not distinguished
between dental and retroflex consonants, for the sake of simplicity and
with the nonspecialist reader in mind.
Many hands helped make this edition of The Complete Kama Sutra
possible. Special thanks go to George Thompson, a Sanskritist from
the University of California, Berkeley, for his assistance with the San
skrit terminology and to Charlotte Tyler for her care and diligence
with the diacritics in the typesetting and design of this book.
vii
INTRODUCTION
The Aims of Life
Since very ancient times, sometimes going back as far as what we term
prehistory, Indian thinkers have asked themselves questions about the
nature of the world and the position of man in creation. They consid
ered matter as being formed of atoms, cells constituted by energetic
elements, organized according to mathematical formulas that define the
various elements under relatively stable and permanent forms. Life
presents a different problem. Being based on formulas, codes defining
the peculiarities of the various species, it only exists by transmitting
itself through temporary links. The species is permanent, but each link
has only a limited existence. Once it has transmitted the code that
defines its nature, it is itself destroyed. During its brief existence, each
link needs, for its own subsistence and self-transmission, to consume
energy, to nourish and protect itself. Furthermore, existing only as a
species, beings form interdependent communities and must observe
rules of social behavior. They therefore possess obligations - ethics -
that form part of their nature. This is particularly important for the
human species.
Life thus necessitates three kinds of activity: to assure its survival,
its means of existence, and its nourishment; to realize its reproduction
1