224 - Duties of a king in the harem 

Pushkara said:

1-2. Ishall describe the duties of the king in the harem. Virtues etc. (are) the purpose of life (for the king). The kingsshould entertain them without mutual conflict in the company of the women. Virtue is the root, worldly prosperity the bough and action or deed the great fruit. One who fosters this tree of the three objects of worldly existence, would realise the fruits. 

3-9. O Rama! Women are subject to desire. Hence the gems are gathered for their sake. Theyshould be entertained and also not much entertained by the king who desires for wealth. Oneshould not indulge excessively in eating, sexual pleasure and sleep. It would cause disease. The kingshouldshare his bed only with his beloved women. A woman behaving badly, not rejoicing in (hearing his) exploits, associating with the enemies (of the king), fecling haughty and proud, wiping her face when kissed, not feeling grateful after accepting a present, sleeping before and getting up later after sleep,shaking the body when touched and preventing from touching the body on account ofshyness, scarcely listening to pleasing words and keeping the face turned away, ignoring to look at things placed in front, concealing the loins, having a pale face when looked at, turning her face away from the friends, appearing as if a mediator in the (affairs of) other women loved (by the king) and not adorning her person even after knowing that it is time for adorning (should be rejected). 

10-19. One who is disinterestedshould be rejected and one who is lovingshould be entertained. (The characteristics of a loving woman are as follows).she rejoices even at the sight (of her husband). When looked atshe casts her eyes down. Being looked atshe places hershaking glances elsewhere. Yetshe would not be able to turn aside her look coinpletely. O Bhargava (son of Bhrugu, Parasurama)!she exhibits her concealed parts of body and covers up with effort the organs prohibited (from being displayed).she embraces and kisses him (immediately after) being seen.she always speaks only the truth. When being touched feels horripilation later manifesting as the sweat-drops (on the body). (O Rāma!she asks for easy and simple things (from the husband).she gets great rejoice after getting even a littie.she feels elated and favoured much by the mere pronunciation of her name.she sends fruits to her husband with the impressions of her nails.she holds those sent by her husband on the chest out of regard.she besmears the body as if with the ambrosia by her embraces.she sleeps after the husband) had slept and would get up before (he gets up).she would wake him up from sleep by touching his thigh much. O Sage! The clarified butter becomes fragrant by combination with the powders of kapittha and a column of curd as also with barley put in milk. This is the way by which an eatable thingshould be dressed. Now Ishall describe the mode of preparation of perfumes. 

20-22. O Rama! Cleansing, gargling, vomitting, adorning (with flowers etc.), heating, burning (incense sticks) fumigation and perfuming are indicated to be the eight acts. Purification of a thing is by washing it with water containing the leaves of Kapittha, bilva, mango and Karavira. In the absence of these, purificationshould be done with water saturated with musk. 

23-29. The twenty-one herbs for fumigation are-nakha, kushtha, dhana, mámsi, sprukka, saileyaja, jala, saffron,shellac, sandal, agallochum, nirada, sarala, deoakāshtha, champhor, känta, bala, kunduruka, guggulu, srinivasaka and sarjarasa. Two of theseshould be taken and mixed with parts of resin from a sala tree. They become fit for fumigation by being mixed with nakha, pinyāka, malaya and honey and made as desired in the proper way. The bark, tubular part, fruit, oil, saffron, granthiparvaka, saileya, tagara, kāntā, cola, camphor, māṁsi, surā and kushtha are said to be the things to be used) for bathing. Oneshould bathe with any three (things) from these collected as one desires after mixing with the musk. This would increase the passion. 

30. If one bathes with tvak, murā and analada in equal proportions added to half (the quantity) of bålaka with saffron and oil, one would have the fragrance of the lotus. 

31. By adding a half of tagara (in the same), it will have the fragrance of the jāti flower. It gives a captivating fragrance of the bakula (flowers) with the dhyāmaka (grass). 

32. One would get an auspicious fragrant oil by putting the manjisthå, tagara, cola, tvak, vyāghranakha, nakha and gandhapatra. 

33. O Rāma! the oil extracted from the sesamum and scented with any of the flowers would certainly have the fragrance of the flower. 

34. Cardamom, clove, kakkola, nutmegand camphor mixed with the skin of the nutmeg would be able to make the mouth fragrant. 

35-38. O Rama! a kārshika (weight) of camphor, saffron kāntā, musk, hareņuka, kakkola, cardamom, clove, jāti, kośaka, tvakpatra, truţi, musta, kastūrika latā, the thorns of clove, the fruit and skin of nutmeg and kaļukashould be powdered and a fourth part of the essence of khadira that gives fragranceshould be added. Then tabletsshould be made of them by (adding) mango juice. When kept in the mouth they give fragrance and destroy the diseases of the mouth, 

39. Arecanut well washed with the waters of the leaves of five (trees) and made fragrant with the (above) things (used) for (making) the pills would make the mouth fragrant. 

40. O Ráma! (the herbs) katuka and dantakästha soaked 

in cow's urine for three days and perfumed as the arecanut would make the mouth fragrant. 

41. Equal parts of tvak and pathya mixed with half (the quantity) of the camphor would give an attractive fragrance in the mouth similar to that of the någavalli (betel). 

42. The kingshould always protect the women thus. Heshould not trust them, especially, the mother of children. Heshould never sleep in the night in the apartment of a woman. 

The faith (placed in them)should be feigned one.