Public-domain ebook
by Vatsyayana
Language: en23,870 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: Sociology·Erotic Fiction·Banned Books from Anne Haight's list
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #27827.
The work presented is a nineteenth‑century English translation of Vatsyayana’s Sanskrit treatise on love, organized into seven parts, a preface, an introduction, and concluding remarks. The opening pages explain that the translator has corrected minor punctuation and printer errors, and that the text is based on a composite manuscript assembled from four Indian libraries, with the aid of the “Jayamangla” commentary. The preface situates the Kama Sutra among a family of Indian erotic writings, listing comparable works such as the Ratirahasya and the Panchasakya, and outlines the scope of Vatsyayana’s own composition, about twelve‑hundred verses divided into thirty‑six chapters and sixty‑four paragraphs. It then proceeds to describe, in a matter‑of‑fact style, the classification of women (Padmini, Chitrini, Shankhini, Hastini) and the attendant customs, positioning the text as a scholarly, rather than purely sensual, exploration of desire.
The translation reflects the Victorian‑era fascination with “exotic” Eastern knowledge, employing a formal, didactic tone that mirrors the scholarly introductions of its time. Its language is straightforward, avoiding poetic embellishment, and it often draws parallels with contemporary Western works on beauty and sexuality. Readers who appreciate historical perspectives on gender, cultural anthropology, or the development of sexual theory will find this volume rewarding, especially those interested in how early scholars framed Indian erotic literature for a British audience.
The opening · free to read
All occurrences of "i.e." have been italicized for consistency.
On Page 128 there is a paragraph listed as "(2)". However, there is no preceding paragraph listed as "(1)". This is unchanged.
The following changes have been made to the text:
Page 3: "Sancrit literature" changed to "Sanscrit literature".
Page 4: "calied Pachivedas" changed to "called Pachivedas".
Page 9: "sensual grat fication" changed to "sensual gratification".
Page 12: "written by Nundi in one" changed to "written by Nandi in one".
Page 12: "Babhravya, an inheritant" changed to "Babhravya, an inhabitant".
Page 22 (in this version), Footnote #7: "now nnknown" changed to "now unknown".
Page 27: "at the botttom" changed to "at the bottom".
Page 29: "should be understand" changed to "should be understood".
Page 32: "heir heads shaved" changed to "their heads shaved".
Page 33 (in this version), Footnote #29: "fiction, imitiating him" changed to "fiction, imitating him".
Page 37 (in this version), Footnote #32: "technical term throughont" changed to "technical term throughout".
Page 39: "highesf union" changed to "highest union".
Page 41: "if ihe ways" changed to "if the ways".
Page 45: "neither has the rice seven colours" changed to "neither has the rice five colours".
Page 51: "is is called a" changed to "it is called a".
Page 52: "passion is e ces ve" changed to "passion is excessive".
Page 52: "Middllng" changed to "Middling".
Page 53: "breasts, it is called the" changed to "breasts, is called the".
Page 70: "the ennuch moves about" changed to "the eunuch moves about".
Page 70: "passes the tongue ever the end" changed to "passes the tongue over the end".
Page 71: "sonthern bank of the Jumna" changed to "southern bank of the Jumna".
Page 72: "be made nse of" changed to "be made use of".
Page 73: "can then eat sweatmeats" changed to "can then eat sweetmeats".
Page 76: "End of Part II" added.
Page 82: "he should them embrace" changed to "he should then embrace".
Page 93 (in this version), Footnote #49: "Woman is a monaganous animal" to "Woman is a monogamous animal".
Page 101: "remarried, or a concubine" changed to "re-married, or a concubine".
Page 104: "Tho followers of Babhravya says" changed to "The followers of Babhravya say".
Page 106: "the ttme of her turn" changed to "the time of her turn".
Page 110: "if his inaccesibility" changed to "if his inaccessibility".
Page 112: "A covetuous woman" changed to "A covetous woman".
Page 117: "better dressed that before" changed to "better dressed than before".
Page 127 (in this version), Footnote #61:
"jure" changed to "jure".
"profound" changed to "profond".
"Voulez vous qu'infidele" changed to "Voulez-vous qu'infidele".
"language" changed "langage".
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