Kama Sutra -Part One
Chapter Five:
Reflections on Intermediaries Who Assist the Lover in His Enterprises
[nàyakasahàya
dùtakarma]
In
order to arrange a marriage, an intermediary is needed for the preliminaries.
Through their contacts, they ascertain that both boy and girl lead a civilized
life, after which the matter can be considered. The intermediary may be a man
or a woman, and is chosen either by the boy or by the girl. The business is
concluded, or it is deemed preferable to abandon it, only after numerous
exchanges of view.
1
Sexuality must be satisfied, in the first place, within the caste. This is true
for all four castes. By marrying one’s son to a virgin, as prescribed, one
acquires a good reputation and general esteem.
The
sacred books recommend marrying within the social group [kûatra]. Brahman with
Brahman, Úùdra with Úùdra, and assuring that the wife is a virgin, in the
interest of the offspring, so that they can be considered legitimate. A
twice-born must have sons belonging; to his social and cultural milieu. Even
when there is no mutual attraction between man and woman, the word love is
employed, although in this case it is a matter of social convention. The role
of the intermediary is to assure the continuity of the family line of
descendents, which is a man’s essential duty. This is why marriage within the
caste and the begetting of a son are essential, after which, one is free.
