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The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana: The Classic Burton Translation (Dover Thrift Editions: Philosophy) Paperback – July 21, 2006

by Vatsyayana (Author), Richard Burton (Translator)

3.7 799 ratings

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Kama means desire, love, and lust; sutra means teachings and "verses." The Kama Sutra, then, is the book of love, teaching the best methods of cultivating sensual pleasure, sexual desire, and loving union. A classic of world literature for 1,700 years, this is the most explicit and fascinating book ever written for lovers.
This immortal work also serves as a window into Indian culture and mysticism. Its unique approach —combining meditations on politics and social customs with counsel on love and intimacy — features frank, direct advice on bodily pleasures, from aphrodisiacs and kissing to orgasm-delaying techniques. This edition is the renowned translation by the great 19th-century explorer and writer Richard Burton. Its crisp style sets a new standard for Sanskrit translation, and its unblushing faithfulness to the original text sparked controversy in certain corners of the Victorian world. A wellspring of erotic knowledge, it remains an inspiration to readers of every era.

Print length

176 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Dover Publications
Publication date

July 21, 2006
Dimensions

5.3 x 0.45 x 8.3 inches
ISBN-10

0486452379
ISBN-13

978-0486452371
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dover Publications (July 21, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0486452379
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0486452371
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.9 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.3 x 0.45 x 8.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,244,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,883 in Sex & Sexuality

Customer Reviews:
3.7 799 ratings

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Jamie Iaconis
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My name is Jamie Iaconis and I have been working online since 1994. I have been publishing books and e-books for many years and have chosen the best classic books for you to enjoy. Have a fantastic day, Jamie! :-)
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Abhijit Misra
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My name is Abhijit Kumar Misra. I am a citizen of India and currently working under the state government of Assam. I have done my graduation from Gauhati University, Assam with Honours in Economics.
I am an avid reader. I love reading books and recently started writing books. I write books mostly on subjects under my thorough knowledge. Apart from writing and reading books, I like to see new places. Thus, traveling is my another hobby.
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Vatsyayana
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Victo Ngai
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Victo Ngai is a Los Angeles-based artist raised in Hong Kong. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 (Art and Style) honoree, the first Chinese Hamilton King Award Winner, five times Society of Illustrators Gold Medalist and Hugo Award nominee.
Victo's work has often been described as magical realism. Each creation in Victo's world is layered with symbolism and stories that reveal more each time the viewer is engaged. The visual results of her artistic journey take inspiration in part from her Chinese heritage, an art education from the Rhode Island School of Design, a love for classic children's books, and Japanese ukiyo-e.
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Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5

799 global ratings

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N. Baldwin

Very Interesting and Educational Reading

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2014

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This is indeed Adult literature but it is also very educational for the young if emotionally mature-say >16 years of age.

It is not porn but has been treated as such by those who don't understand it or are of narrow outlook as to the healthful and emotional benefits of classical sexual techniques.

Most modern literature on sexual techniques and mutual respect of participants, one for the other, the proper state of mind so to speak for getting the most out of the sexual experience, can trace its roots to this one book.

I highly recommend it to all whose interest goes beyond the prurient, those who want to sustain their sexual experience, and to achieve the fullest enjoyment from it.

3 people found this helpful

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Sylvia

No pictures, but loads of great advice

Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2018

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This book has some interesting positions in it to try. It is much like the Kama sutra original, but not write in book like form that makes it easy to follow. But it's a very good book.

3 people found this helpful

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Courtney McKay

Lots of knowledge

Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2022

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This book is amazing and it taught me things I never knew existed

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2014

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Not at all what I expected. When I ordered it the description said it was fully illustrated. However, it is simply a book with a lot of writing. Paragraphs and paragraphs and paragraphs. Half the book is dedicated to how to find a wife and how to be a wife. It is not at ALL what I wanted. I suppose I should have paid more attention when I ordered, however their product description could at least be more specific. I wouldnt order this book if you are looking for new sexual positions, illustrations, or any way of spicing up the love life. This book will simply lull you and your lover to sleep.

13 people found this helpful

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Travis

Peaked my curiousity. Good Read

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2013

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I have been curious about what this was all about for years. It's been one of those things that's been on the back of my mind for a while. I ended up buying this on a whim. I was actually really impressed by the whole thing.

It wasn't all about sexual position and things like that. It had a lot of sound advice for living.

As with a lot of old things, this didn't seem to hold all of its original value. I don't think I understood all of some of the lengthy passage but parts of it were absolutely fascinating.

It was a fun thing to read after all I've heard about this kind of thing. I recommend checking it out.

3 people found this helpful

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Narasingha P. Sil

A fitting vindication of the time-honored adage:"the old is gold"!

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2017

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This is a clear and clean reprint of Burton's classic annotated translation. Despite some modern motivated and politicised translations cramming academic marketplace and accusing the Victorian scholar-traveler Sir Richard of mistranslation, his pioneering work still commands gratitude of readers, lay and specialists alike. My only criticism of this awesome work has to with a single instance. I found his calling lovemaking "sexual congress" rather amusing, albeit not wholly inaccurate.

One person found this helpful

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M. DeKalb

One Good Line in the Whole Thing.

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2012

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"When the wheel of love is once set in motion there is then no Shastra and no order." - but there are still some sketchy rules and it creates a poor, shallow vision of what `love' really is.

Translated from the Sanskrit work of Vatsyayana this `Aphorisms on Love' is a severely dated and in many instances, hopefully, out of practice ways and means to acquire women, pleasure them / gain pleasure for oneself and have success in all things. Dharma (virtue / religious merit), Artha (worldly wealth) and Kama (pleasure / sensual gratification) are meant to be preserved after they have burgeoned.

Vatsyayana believes the Hindu holy writ should be followed as it regards the three above aspects of life. An understanding, even minutely, assists with comprehension of the material.

There are various parts concerning sexually: types of men, women, when and how women can be used, how courtesans should act, the duration of the act, etc. It's essentially a `how to' guide if you're not reading the philosophy behind it and just practicing the '64 ways'. But if you engage the philosophy, it's one that's quite demeaning to women, especially toward women, the disabled and humanity as a whole.

Types of men:
Pithmarda - a man alone without any wealth.
Vita - a man who is successful both socially and economically.
Vidushaka - something like the village joker, but trusted.

Nayika: a woman resorted to on some `special' occasion. Vatsyayana then offers a series of justifications for the circumstances which these type of women may be used. These include reasons to bolster oneself or harm someone else, to put oneself in position to achieve wealth or to use the woman as a proxy to some affiliation which leads to fame and greatness, etc. There are 8 kinds of Nayika, all to be `enjoyed' unless they exhibit characteristics from a list that advises which ones not to be `enjoyed' (e.g. gossips, an exhibitionist, female friends, a leper, extremely white or black women, near relations, etc.) Many of these things are pretty commonsensical, other's bigoted. Aside from Nayika's and courtesans, no other memorable types of women were mentioned.

Male sex categories (based upon Lingham size): Smallest: Hare, Bull, Largest: Horse.
Female sex categories (based upon Yoni size): Deer, Mare, Elephant.
Matches of Lingham & Yoni sizes are the best , anything else creates a dissatisfaction for one party or the other depending upon the 'union'.

Related to this is intercourse duration and passion levels: short-timed, moderate time, long-timed; Small passion, Middling passion, High passion. Women prefer `long-timed' with high passion.

Types of love: 1. By habit - it's what you're used to. 2. Imagination - thinking of someone else. 3. Through belief - awesome how vague and open ended this one is. 4. Perception of external objects - basically as you see the world and consider it's things lovely, and 5. Belief by the learned - taking heed of what your elders say.

The practice of the Shastra (64 acts) is alluded to multiple times, through these positions and acts a man can prove his prowess in the bedroom. This article here is what most people mean when they even hint that the Kama Sutra is 'awesome'.

Other terms of interest:
United Congress - a threesome.
Lower Congress - anal.
Auparishtaka - oral.

Objectionable or interesting positions / practices, (xxxx) = Kindle `Location': it's okay to pretend your lover is someone else (1022), it's okay to beat your spouse (1033), wives are to be selected before puberty (1074) if later than puberty they are to be used for `special occasions', blackmail is permissible (1132), advocating date rape (1294), and kidnapping (1298) also being charged with false crimes is encouraged to take a woman from another man.

Courtesans are mainly in the business to fulfill two purposes: giving pleasure to her clients, and making money.

Also mentioned are medicinal powders and tinctures used to elongate the Lingham, also advocated is the practice of piercing the Lingham.

All of this and it seems that Vatsyayana has pretty well described even modern women on a broad scale, some accuracies, many inaccuracies. Despite it's datedness the work still bears a little relevance, but not much. I know I'll never recommend it to anyone.

6 people found this helpful

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Ashley

Not the kama sutra you think it is!

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2020

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Pretty neat book to read through. I ordered as more of a gag gift for someone but kept it instead. It's not the "dirty" picture kind of book I first thought it was, it's more techniques on 'wooing' and being sincere with your partner.

5 people found this helpful

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Matt McDonald

Good book

Reviewed in Canada on April 16, 2022

Verified Purchase

Interesting book

Ambra P.

fas

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

Good

V. S

The Classic Burton Translation - No pictures

Reviewed in India on February 26, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is the Sir Richard Francis Burton 19th century translation for the serious reader. It is not one of the "interesting" versions. The only picture that appears in the books is the one on the cover. So if you are interested in exotic pictures or positions, look else where. This book has the crisp straightforward translation faithful to the Sanskrit original. I received a "Green Edition" version printed in the USA.

27 people found this helpful

Giovanni

Libro interssante

Reviewed in Italy on September 20, 2013

Verified Purchase

Molto spartano ma fatto bene, sicuramente poteva essere messo giù meglio, per esempio qualche figura, ecc.
Nonostante sia molto "essenziale" come aspetto è fatto bene relativamente ai contenuti, che poi è la cosa più importante

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Amazon Customer

Not the product I was hoping for!

Reviewed in Canada on December 8, 2017

Verified Purchase

After reading the other reviews, I felt assured that there would be photos, but there are no illustrations at all. Disappointing.
Positive side: it came very quickly, just not the product I was hoping for.

5 people found this helpful

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The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana: The Classic Burton Translation (Dover Thrift Editions: Philosophy) Paperback – July 21, 2006

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Religion

Are there any collections of stories or poetry in the Dover Thrift Editions?

What formats are the Thrift Editions available in?

American History/History

Black History

Biography and Autobiography

Classic Novels

Crime, Mystery and Thrillers

Literary Collections

Short Stories

Gothic and Horror

Philosophy

Plays

Psychology

Poetry

Political Science

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Product details

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About the authors

Jamie Iaconis

Abhijit Misra

Vatsyayana

Victo Ngai

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