The Kama Sutra, or Aphorisms on Love, has survived at least 1400 years as a dominant text on sexual relations between men and women. Vatsyayana claimed to have written the Kama Sutra while a religious student, “in contemplation of the Deity” - but references to older works, shrewd disputations by Vatsyayana of those authors' recommendations, and careful cataloging of practices in various of the Indian states indicate much more emphasis on kama, or sensual gratification.


Part of the book discusses the 64 arts of love employed by masters of coitus. Learning each of these and when and how to practice them, Vatsyayana affirms, not only leads to the best gratification, but makes the artist a person of great desirability.

Once the means of sexual congress are discussed, the many types of male-female relationships and their proper prosecution are covered. Some of these have small relevance to the modern world, such as how to sneak into the King's harem, but are interesting nonetheless. Others, such as how to get money from a lover, will probably remain useful as long as there are humans in the world.

The translator's concluding remarks call the book primitive; so might also modern women who are told that if their name ends in “l” or “r” they should not be married, because they are worthless. But in tackling the subject of human sexuality, Vatsyayana nevertheless will always attract readers (or, in this case, listeners!).

(Summary by Mark F Smith)

Genre(s): Erotica, Ancient

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 01 - Introduction and Part 1, Chapter 1 Mark F. Smith
00:17:35
Play 02 02 - Part 1, Chapter 2 Mark F. Smith
00:11:11
Play 03 03 - Part 1, Chaps 3 & 4 Mark F. Smith
00:27:08
Play 04 04 - Part 1, Chapter 5 Mark F. Smith
00:10:29
Play 05 05 - Part 2, Chapters 1 & 2 Mark F. Smith
00:22:18
Play 06 06 - Part 2, Chapters 3 & 4 Mark F. Smith
00:13:49
Play 07 07 - Part 2, Chapters 5 & 6 Mark F. Smith
00:15:29
Play 08 08 - Part 2, Chapters 7 & 8 Mark F. Smith
00:13:57
Play 09 09 - Part 2, Chapters 9 & 10 Mark F. Smith
00:17:51
Play 10 10 - Part 3, Chapters 1 & 2 Mark F. Smith
00:16:19
Play 11 11 - Part 3, Chapters 3, 4, & 5 Mark F. Smith
00:25:55
Play 12 12 - Part 4, Chapters 1 & 2 Mark F. Smith
00:24:10
Play 13 13 - Part 5, Chapters 1 & 2 Mark F. Smith
00:20:03
Play 14 14 - Part 5, Chapters 3 & 4 Mark F. Smith
00:21:34
Play 15 15 - Part 5, Chapters 5 & 6 Mark F. Smith
00:21:02
Play 16 16 - Part 6, Intro, Chap 1 & 2 Mark F. Smith
00:22:30
Play 17 17 - Part 6, Chapters 3 & 4 Mark F. Smith
00:18:42
Play 18 18 - Part 6, Chapters 5 & 6 Mark F. Smith
00:22:47
Play 19 19 - Part 7, Chapter 1 Mark F. Smith
00:13:27
Play 20 20 - Part 7, Chapter 2 & Concluding Remarks Mark F. Smith
00:19:42


Also see: