Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.343

v1.c5.343

It is in harmony with Yudhishṭhira’s words that even Dhrishṭadyumna only protests against one thing, that the younger brother Arjuna, to whom Draupadī really belongs, has to share her with the elder. But that the younger brothers have access to the wife of the elder one seems to appear to him not at all unnatural or unlawful (i, 196.10). This exactly corresponds with the well-known arrangement in group-marriage, or better, fellowship marriage of brothers, and is reflected, too, in a mythical tale in the Mahābh. “Now there was once a famous wise Ṛishi, called Utathya. Mamatā was the name of his much-prized wife. But Utathya’s younger brother, the sacrificial priest of the heaven-dwellers, Bṛihaspati the majestic, forced himself on Mamatā. But Mamatā said to her brother-in-law, best among speakers: ‘But I am with child by thine elder brother. Desist. And this offspring of Utathya within my body has already studied the Veda with its six auxiliary sciences. But thou art a man of irresistibly powerful seed. Two cannot find room here. But as things are so, do thou therefore now withdraw.’ Though thus addressed by her aright, yet the noble-minded Bṛihaspati could not hold back his soul filled with love’s urge. Then, with love’s longing full, he united himself with her, who had none of love’s longing. But as he ejaculated the seed, he that was in the womb said to him: ‘Listen, father dear, do not give way to love’s heat, there is no room here for two, the space is small.¹ And I came here first. And withal, thy seed, O holy one, is not barren; I pray thee not crowd me.’ But Bṛhaspati listened not to these words of the child in the womb, but only forced his way into the lovely-eyed Mamatā to beget. When he that rested in the womb marked the spurting seed, with his feet he barred the way against Bṛhaspati’s seed. Then the seed fell swiftly onto the earth, driven back without reaching its place. At this Bṛhaspati was angered; when he saw the seed fall down, filled with rage he cursed Utathya’s son that was in the womb, he the holy seer, did abuse him: ‘Since thou hast spoken such words to me at a time like this, which all beings yearn after, thou shalt go into a long darkness (dīrghatamas).’" The Ṛishi was of a truth born under the name of Dīrghatamas, blind from his birth owing to the curse of the high-famed Bṛhaspati, equal to Bṛhaspati in strength and power (i, 104.9 ff.).²