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The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From
The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From is here in full — 32 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/6 · 5 lines
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ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.
On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.
To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.
She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.
She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From is here in full — 32 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/6 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.
Line 2
On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.
/ɑːn ˈsiːɪŋ ðə mæn ðə ˈdɔːtər ʌv ðə nɜːrs ʃʊd ɪn ðə kɔːrs ʌv ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən dɪˈskraɪb tuː hɪm ðə ˈnoʊbəl bɜːrθ ðə ɡʊd ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən ðə ˈbjuːti ˈtælənt skɪl ˈnɑːlədʒ ʌv ˈhjuːmən ˈneɪtʃər ənd əˈfekʃən ʌv ðə ɡɜːrl ɪn sʌtʃ ə weɪ æz nɑːt tuː let hɪm səˈpoʊz ðæt ʃiː hæz bɪn sent baɪ ðə ɡɜːrl ənd ʃʊd ðʌs kriˈeɪt əˈfekʃən fɔːr ðə ɡɜːrl ɪn ðə hɑːrt ʌv ðə mæn/
Line 3
To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.
/tuː ðə ɡɜːrl ˈɔːlsoʊ ʃiː ʃʊd spiːk əˈbaʊt ðə ˈeksələnt ˈkwɑːlətiz ʌv ðə mæn əˈspeʃli ʌv ðoʊz ˈkwɑːlətiz wɪtʃ ʃiː noʊz ɑːr ˈpliːzɪŋ tuː ðə ɡɜːrl/
Line 4
She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.
Line 5
She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

avarice noun US /ˈæv.ər.ɪs/

Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

From this reading “She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.”

caste noun US /kæst/

social status or position conferred by a system based on class

From this reading “She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.”

create verb US /kriˈeɪt/

make or cause to be or to become

From this reading “On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.”

fickleness noun US /ˈfɪkəlnəs/

unfaithfulness by virtue of being unreliable or treacherous

From this reading “She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.”

indiscretion noun US /ˌɪndɪˈskreʃən/

the trait of being injudicious

From this reading “She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.”

previously adverb US /ˈpriːviəsli/

at an earlier time or formerly

From this reading “ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.”

quote verb US /kwoʊt/

repeat a passage from

From this reading “She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.”

samples noun US /ˈsæmpəlz/

plural of “sample” — a small part of something intended as representative of the whole

From this reading “She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.”

All words in this reading · 108

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

50

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.

affectionnounUS /əˈfekʃən/

a positive feeling of liking

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

afterwardsadverbUS /ˈæftərwərdz/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

avaricenounUS /ˈæv.ər.ɪs/

Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

From this reading She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.

beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

birthnounUS /bɜːrθ/

the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

cannot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

castenounUS /kæst/

social status or position conferred by a system based on class

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

CERTAINadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

choicenounUS /tʃɔɪs/

the person or thing chosen or selected

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

confidencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfədəns/

freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

conversationnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

createverbUS /kriˈeɪt/

make or cause to be or to become

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

describeverbUS /dɪˈskraɪb/

give a description of

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

disparagementnoun

a communication that belittles somebody or something

From this reading She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.

dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/

your usual mood

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

especiallyadverbUS /əˈspeʃli/

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

excellentadjectiveUS /ˈeksələnt/

very good; of the highest quality

From this reading To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.

ficklenessnounUS /ˈfɪkəlnəs/

unfaithfulness by virtue of being unreliable or treacherous

From this reading She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

FORMSnounUS /fɔːrmz/

plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

frequentlyadverbUS /ˈfriːkwəntli/

many times at short intervals

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

gainedverbUS /ɡeɪnd/

past form of “gain” — obtain

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

indiscretionnounUS /ˌɪndɪˈskreʃən/

the trait of being injudicious

From this reading She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.

interestsnounUS /ˈɪntrəsts/

plural of “interest” — a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

knowledgenounUS /ˈnɑːlədʒ/

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

knowsnounUS /noʊz/

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

lovernounUS /ˈlʌvər/

a person who loves someone or is loved by someone

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

loversnounUS /ˈlʌvərz/

plural of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone

From this reading She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

MARRIAGEnounUS /ˈmerɪdʒ/

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

moreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.

naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/

impressive in appearance

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

nurseverbUS /nɜːrs/

try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.

others

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

parentsnounUS /ˈperənts/

plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.

pleasingadjectiveUS /ˈpliːzɪŋ/

giving pleasure and satisfaction

From this reading To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.

previouslyadverbUS /ˈpriːviəsli/

at an earlier time or formerly

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

privateadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪvət/

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

qualitiesnounUS /ˈkwɑːlətiz/

plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

From this reading To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.

quoteverbUS /kwoʊt/

repeat a passage from

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

relationsnounUS /riˈleɪʃənz/

mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups

From this reading She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.

Sakuntala

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

samplesnounUS /ˈsæmpəlz/

plural of “sample” — a small part of something intended as representative of the whole

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

seeingnounUS /ˈsiːɪŋ/

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

sendverbUS /send/

cause to go somewhere

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

skillnounUS /skɪl/

an ability that has been acquired by training

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

speakverbUS /spiːk/

express in speech

From this reading To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/

express a supposition

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

talentnounUS /ˈtælənt/

natural abilities or qualities

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

talkverbUS /tɔːk/

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.

thusadverbUS /ðʌs/

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

understoodadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈstʊd/

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

unitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading On seeing the man, the daughter of the nurse should, in the course of conversation, describe to him the noble birth, the good disposition, the beauty, talent, skill, knowledge of human nature and affection of the girl in such a way as not to let him suppose that she has been sent by the girl, and should thus create affection for the girl in the heart of the man.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading ON CERTAIN FORMS OF MARRIAGE[50] When a girl cannot meet her lover frequently in private, she should send the daughter of her nurse to him, it being understood that she has confidence in her, and had previously gained her over to her interests.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading To the girl also she should speak about the excellent qualities of the man, especially of those qualities which she knows are pleasing to the girl.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading She should also quote samples of many girls of ancient times, such as Sakuntala and others, who, having united themselves with lovers of their own caste and their own choice, were ever happy afterwards in their society.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She should, moreover, speak with disparagement of the other lovers of the girl, and talk about the avarice and indiscretion of their parents, and the fickleness of their relations.

Chapter 21 of The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From by Vatsyayana holds 32 sentences, grouped into 7 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 21 of The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From contain?

Chapter 21 holds 32 sentences of The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From, unabridged, divided into 7 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From by Vatsyayana exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 32 sentences, grouped into 7 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 21 of The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From?

Work through the 7 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 7 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From

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Is this the complete text of The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From?

Yes. All 2855 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #27827 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #27827, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From take to read?

About 237 minutes of reading across 571 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From section by section

How to work through The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

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Vocabulary met early in The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Minor
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Punctuation
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Translated From; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Errors
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Changed
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