Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.264

v1.c5.264

Even a fight, as a very primitive method, also gives the decision in MBh., vii, 144.9 ff. : “ At this very time, at the Svayamvara of the daughter of the great souled Devaka, for which all the Kshattriyas gathered together, at this time of a truth Çini overcame all the princes, and lifted the queen Devakī swiftly onto his chariot for Vasudeva (to whom he then brought her). When the hero, Somadatta, the bull among men, saw Devakī on his chariot, the so mighty one could not bear this with calm. Through half a day the glorious, wonderful fight between the two lasted, a fight with fists was fought between the two strong ones.¹ But Çini flung Somadatta violently on the ground, lifted his sword, grasped him by the hair, and kicked him with his foot in the midst of the thousands of kings watching from every side. But, pitying, he spoke : ‘ Live ! ’ and set him free again.” Cp. further iii, 12.31, 115 ; vii, 11.10 f.