
Mature
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.
Audiobook details
GenreSelf-Help, Literary Classics
Length6 hrs 26 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJan 4, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Kama Sutra (Illustrated Edition)
25Chapter V. On Certain Forms of Marriage
2Preface
26Part IV. About a Wife
3Introduction
27Chapter I. On the Manner of Living of a Virtuous Woman, and of Her Behaviour During the Absence of Her Husband
4Part I. The Vatsyayana Sutra. Introductory Preface. Salutation to Dharma, Artha and Kama
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's Harem; And Lastly on the Conduct of a Husband Towards Many Wives
5Chapter II. On the Acquisition of Dharma, Artha and Kama
29Part V. About the Wives of Other Men
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6Chapter III. On the Arts and Sciences to Be Studied
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
7Chapter IV. The Life of a Citizen
31Chapter II. About Making Acquaintance With the Woman, and of the Efforts to Gain Her Over
8Chapter V. About the Kinds of Women Resorted to by the Citizens, and of Friends and Messengers
32Chapter III. Examination of the State of a Woman's Mind
9Part II. Of Sexual Union
33Chapter IV. About the Business of a Go-Between
10Chapter I. Kinds of Sexual Union According To
34Chapter V. About the Love of Persons in Authority for the Wives of Other Men
11Chapter II. Of the Embrace
35Chapter VI. About the Women of the Royal Harem; And of the Keeping of One's Own Wife
12Chapter III. On Kissing
36Part VI. About Courtesans
13Chapter IV. On Pressing, or Marking, or Scratching With the Nails
37Introductory Remarks
14Chapter V. On Biting, and the Means to Be Employed With Regard to Women of Different Countries
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
15Chapter VI. Of the Different Ways of Lying Down, and Various Kinds of Congress
39Chapter II. Of Living Like a Wife
16Chapter VII. Of the Various Modes of Striking, and of the Sounds Appropriate to Them
40Chapter III. Of the Means of Getting Money. Of the Signs of the Change of a Lover's Feelings, and of the Way to Get Rid of Him
17Chapter VIII. About Women Acting the Part of a Man; And of the Work of a Man
41Chapter IV. About Re-Union With a Former Lover
18Chapter IX. Of the Auparishtaka19b or Mouth Congress.
42Chapter V. Of Different Kinds of Gain
19Chapter X. Of the Way How to Begin and How to End the Congress. Different Kinds of Congress and Love Quarrels
43Chapter VI. Of Gains and Losses; Attendant Gains and Losses; And Doubts; As Also of the Different Kinds of Courtesans
20Part III. About the Acquisition of a Wife
44Part VII. About the Means of Attracting Others to Yourself
21Chapter I. On Marriage
45Chapter I. On Personal Adornment; On Subjugating the Hearts of Others; And on Tonic Medicines
22Chapter II. Of Creating Confidence in the Girl
46Chapter II. Of the Ways of Exciting Desire, and Miscellaneous Experiments, and Recipes
23Chapter III. On Courtship, and the Manifestation of the Feelings by Outward Signs and Deeds
47Concluding Remarks
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