Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.309

v1.c5.309

thee these clear open words, O slayer of foes.' To the Madra king made answer Bhīshma, overlord of men : ' This law is the highest, O king, proclaimed by Brahma himself. There lies nothing of evil in it. The forefathers made this rule. And well-known, O Çalya, is this prescription, approved by the good, and laid upon thee.'¹ After these words the very mighty one gave wrought and unwrought gold, and many kinds of jewels in thousands; elephants, horses and chariots, apparel and ornaments, precious stones, pearls and coral, that shone, did the son of Gaṅgā bestow. All this did Çalya take with joyous heart, and gave him his sister for it, having decked her out. Bhīshma, the son of her that wanders unto the sea, took Mādrī, and went off with her to Hāstinapura. When then a fitting day and moment was come, approved by the excellent ones, King Pāṇḍu took hold of Mādrī's hand according to the holy prescript (i, 113, 1 ff.)."