Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.298

v1.c5.298

Menakā is with the gods, and the gods are with Menakā. My descent is higher than thine, Dushyanta. Thou wanderest along on earth, I through the air. So long as the ugly man does not see his own face in the glass, he believes he is handsomer than others. He that has the gift of the highest beauty scorns no one. But he that utters a stream of immeasurably evil words is an outrage here on earth.” Then she opposes, in their nature and ways, the foolish and the bad to the wise and the good, with a telling reference to Dushyanta with his evil and unwise deeds, and winds up with an inspired song, full of fire, on the truth that is so sorely sinned against by the man of deceit. “Better than a hundred wells is the tank, better than a hundred tanks the sacrifice, better than a hundred sons the truth. If a thousand sacrificial steeds and the truth are put on the balance, then the truth outweighs even the thousand sacrificial steeds. To study all the Vedas, to bathe at all the holy bathing-places, and the truth—these things are on an equality with one another, nay, the truth stands higher. King, truth is the highest “Brahman”, truth is the highest duty; do not forsake duty, O king, let truth be thy bosom companion. If thou, however, clingest to the lie, if thou dost not believe from thine own impulse, then I will go of my own self; with one such as thou there is no friendly relation.” Then a voice sounds from the sky, assuring the king that this is his son, and bidding him to take him to himself. Then Dushyanta declares to his ministers and priests that he was not allowed to avow his son otherwise, else would the world have doubted the truth of his descent, and to Çakuntalā he speaks: “Our union took place hidden from the world; to cleanse thee, O queen, it was that I have so delayed and tested thee. But what harsh things