Self-Help

Literary Classics

Kama Sutra

IllustratedBy Vatsyayana, Richard Francis Burton

Listen with Sir Michael Caine™ and 1,000+ voices

Try for $0.00 Get for $2

Length6h 26m

About this audiobook

The 'Kama Sutra,' explored through the collaborative efforts of Vatsyayana, originally its compiler, and Sir Richard Francis Burton, its famed translator, extends beyond a mere manual of desire to embody a detailed illustration of the social customs and the intimate facet of human relationships in classical India. This anthology transcends the basic text of pleasure, incorporating the varied literary styles of prose and poetry, and juxtaposing ancient philosophies with colonial perspectives. Particularly noteworthy are Burton's commentaries, which provide a Victorian lens on the ancient texts, inviting readers into a temporal dialogue between epochs and cultures. The breadth of authorial backgrounds in this collection — from Vatsyayana's deep-rooted connection to Sanskrit scholarship, to Burton's eclectic experience as an explorer and translator — enriches the tapestry of narratives presented. Together, these figures bridge the gap between Eastern and Western thought, offering insights not only into sexual norms but also into the intricate dynamics of partnership and respect that transcend geographical and temporal boundaries. This edition mirrors historical and cultural dialogues, emphasizing shifts and continuities in human narratives of desire and societal norms. Readers of the 'Kama Sutra' are afforded a unique opportunity to survey a spectrum of thematic expositions from authority and obedience to joy and fulfillment. This anthology serves not merely as academic or erotic reading but as a profound engagement with the universality of human relationships, viewed through a prism of cultural convergence. Diverse, educational, and thought-provoking, this book is a must-read for those interested in the complexities of human connection and the historical context that shapes our interpretation of it.

Folklore Identity Psychological

Audiobook details

Rating★★★★ 3.7 (13.4K)

Includes Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing, StoryGraph

GenreSelf-Help, Literary Classics

Length6 hrs 26 mins

Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices

FormateBook with Audio

Publish dateJan 4, 2022

LanguageEnglish

1Kama Sutra (Illustrated Edition)

2Preface

3Introduction

4Part I. The Vatsyayana Sutra. Introductory Preface. Salutation to Dharma, Artha and Kama

5Chapter II. On the Acquisition of Dharma, Artha and Kama

Show all chapters

6Chapter III. On the Arts and Sciences to Be Studied

7Chapter IV. The Life of a Citizen

8Chapter V. About the Kinds of Women Resorted to by the Citizens, and of Friends and Messengers

9Part II. Of Sexual Union

10Chapter I. Kinds of Sexual Union According To

11Chapter II. Of the Embrace

12Chapter III. On Kissing

13Chapter IV. On Pressing, or Marking, or Scratching With the Nails

14Chapter V. On Biting, and the Means to Be Employed With Regard to Women of Different Countries

15Chapter VI. Of the Different Ways of Lying Down, and Various Kinds of Congress

16Chapter VII. Of the Various Modes of Striking, and of the Sounds Appropriate to Them

17Chapter VIII. About Women Acting the Part of a Man; And of the Work of a Man

18Chapter IX. Of the Auparishtaka19b or Mouth Congress.

19Chapter X. Of the Way How to Begin and How to End the Congress. Different Kinds of Congress and Love Quarrels

20Part III. About the Acquisition of a Wife

21Chapter I. On Marriage

22Chapter II. Of Creating Confidence in the Girl

23Chapter III. On Courtship, and the Manifestation of the Feelings by Outward Signs and Deeds

24Chapter IV. About Things to Be Done Only by the Man, and the Acquisition of the Girl Thereby. Also What Is to Be Done by a Girl to Gain Over a Man, and Subject Him to Her

25Chapter V. On Certain Forms of Marriage

26Part IV. About a Wife

27Chapter I. On the Manner of Living of a Virtuous Woman, and of Her Behaviour During the Absence of Her Husband

28Chapter II. On the Conduct of the Elder Wife Towards the Other Wives of Her Husband, and on That of a Younger Wife Towards the Elder Ones. Also on the Conduct of a Virgin Widow Re-Married; Of a Wife Disliked by Her Husband; Of the Women in the King&#x27;s Harem; And Lastly on the Conduct of a Husband Towards Many Wives

29Part V. About the Wives of Other Men

30Chapter I. Of the Characteristics of Men and Women.—the Reasons Why Women Reject the Addresses of Men.—about Men Who Have Success With Women, and About Women Who Are Easily Gained Over

31Chapter II. About Making Acquaintance With the Woman, and of the Efforts to Gain Her Over

32Chapter III. Examination of the State of a Woman&#x27;s Mind

33Chapter IV. About the Business of a Go-Between

34Chapter V. About the Love of Persons in Authority for the Wives of Other Men

35Chapter VI. About the Women of the Royal Harem; And of the Keeping of One&#x27;s Own Wife

36Part VI. About Courtesans

37Introductory Remarks

38Chapter I. Of the Causes of a Courtesan Resorting to Men; Of the Means of Attaching to Herself the Man Desired; And of the Kind of Man That It Is Desirable to Be Acquainted With

39Chapter II. Of Living Like a Wife

40Chapter III. Of the Means of Getting Money. Of the Signs of the Change of a Lover&#x27;s Feelings, and of the Way to Get Rid of Him

41Chapter IV. About Re-Union With a Former Lover

42Chapter V. Of Different Kinds of Gain

43Chapter VI. Of Gains and Losses; Attendant Gains and Losses; And Doubts; As Also of the Different Kinds of Courtesans

44Part VII. About the Means of Attracting Others to Yourself

45Chapter I. On Personal Adornment; On Subjugating the Hearts of Others; And on Tonic Medicines

46Chapter II. Of the Ways of Exciting Desire, and Miscellaneous Experiments, and Recipes

47Concluding Remarks