Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.406

v1.c5.406

‘ I have an urge to pair, an urge that is pain, O Brahman, and do thou consider my sacrificing love. Thou dost sin against rightness and virtue in that thou scornest me.’ Aṣṭāvakra spoke : ‘ The divers kinds of vices carry that man away with them, that has given himself up to his lusts. I am ever lord of my soul by my staunchness.¹ Go into thine own bed, my dear one.’ The woman spoke : ‘ With my head I bow, O Brahman; mayest thou bestow favour on me, be thou the refuge of her that is sinking onto the ground. But if thou seest something forbidden in stranger women, then I give myself to thee; take thou my hand. No guilt will fall on thee, that I assure thee on oath. Know that I am free. If there is any wrong withal, then it shall fall onto me. I have set my heart on thee, and am my own lord; enjoy me.’ Aṣṭāvakra spoke : ‘ How shouldest thou be free? Tell me wherefore. In the three worlds is no woman capable of freedom. The father wards them in childhood, the husband in youth, the son in their old age; for woman there is no freedom.’ The woman spoke : ‘ I have kept maidenly chastity; I am still a maid; of that there is no doubt; make me thy wife; do not repel my yearning.’ Aṣṭāvakra spoke : ‘ It is with thee as with me, it is with me as with thee (that is, we both are in love, but not with one another).’ Must this not of a truth be a test, a hindrance set by that Ṛiṣi?² For that is a wonder beyond measure (what I now suddenly see before me). What is best for me? For it is as a maid in heavenly comeliness that she (the former old woman) has now come to me. But how has she now the most splendid of forms? And how was it that her shape seemed aged? And whence now a maiden’s form like this? What else will happen there? Yet will I call up all my strength to keep myself from sexual infidelity. For such infidelity pleases me not. By truth will I win her (the beloved).” He now asked the woman, what all this might mean, and she made acknowledgment : “ To strengthen thee did I make this trial. Through thy faithfulness in love (avyutthāṇa) thou hast won these worlds, thou truly stout and strong one (satyaparākrama). Know thou that I am the protecting goddess of the northern quarter of the heavens. Thou hast now seen the fickleness of woman. Even old women are plagued by the feverish longing for man.¹ Brahma is now content with thee,² as also the gods and Indra. And as to the business on which thou, O holy one, didst come hither, sent by the Brahman the father of the maiden, to give thee instruction—that has all been carried through by me. Thou wilt come happily back home, no weariness will come on thee, thou wilt get the maiden, and she will bear a son."³ Then Aṣṭavakra went back home again, related, when questioned by the holy man, what he had gone through, and he (the holy man) said: "Take my daughter, for thou art most highly worthy." He wedded the maiden, and lived with her, full of joy and without sorrow.