Srngaramanjari Katha

SR No.: 002914
Original Sutra Author: Bhojdev
Author: Kalpalata K Munshi
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1959
Total Pages: 312
Language: Sanskrit, Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 21 MB

Page 234

TRANSLATION
The (man of) Nili räga should be abandoned after taking away his essence like a cloth; the Mañjiṣṭhā rāga should be dispossessed (of his resources) at your pleasure, but should not be led to be disinterested. The Kusumbha raga cannot tolerate much flattery, therefore without any flattery, his resources should be drained out whether the circumstances be favourable or not. The Haridrā rāga soon becomes estranged. therefore, he should be quickly drained (of his wealth).
Therefore, the secret of the profession of harlotry is this that one's own self should always be protected from love as from a tiger. In the world. many sensuous persons have been deceived by harlots due to their ragas. I shall tell you how. Listen:
THUS ENDS THE LESSON FOR SRNGARAMANJARI' IN THE SṚNGARAMANJARIKATHA COMPOSED BY MAHĀRĀJĀDHI
RAJA-PARAMESVARA-SRIBHOJADEVA.
25
THE FIRST TALE OF RAVIDATTA
Here in the town of Kundinapura dwelt a rich learned brah mana called SOMADATTA. In his old age he begot a son by propitiating the Sun, the giver of desired objects, by observing the Vijayasaptami. As the child was given by the Sun, the father named him RAVIDATTA. By the time he was sixteen years old, he was given the sacred thread and he studied the whole literature of the Vedas and the Vedāngas according to rites and mastered all the sastras. His father then, being aware of his being rich, taught him all the arts as a remedy against the danger of his being ruined in future; the secrets of harlotry as laid down by DATTAKA and others was specially made known to him.
One day, calling him in private he (the father) instructed him: "Son, youth is dense darkness and it cannot be avoided by living beings; Madana is wicked and wealth is the one abode of intoxication. The mind by nature is as inconstant as a drop of water on the lotus leaf; senses are as unrestrainable as untamed elephants; the objects of pleasure are naturally fascinating (20) and amongst these especially young damsels. The beginning of the monsoon and the autumn and the other seasons are great excitants. And who can possibly resist Love, their friend? Therefore, you should conquer the group of six enemies, then the senses, then the inspiration of the wicked people in proximity, then the contact of wanton women. For wanton women, the sisters of the female dṛṣtivişa serpents, produce infatuation of the mind even from a distance. The teachings of the elders slip away from the infatuated mind; the study of Śästras glide away from a distance; teaching is brought to a naught, the sense of self-respect is lost; the pride of class, etc. disappears;