Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.45.1

v1.c5.45.1

We find even quite spoiled daughters. Thus i, 76 ff., tells us : “ The gods and the Dānavas fight with one another for leadership. Çukra, the sacrificial priest of the Dānavas, knows the charm for bringing back life, and keeps on calling back to life the Dānavas who fall in the fight. The sacrificial priest of the gods, Bṛhaspati, cannot do this. So the heaven-dwellers are at a great drawback. They induce Kaca, Bṛhaspati’s young son, to go and be a disciple of Çukra, by telling him ‘ Thou and no other, canst win favour with Devayānī, the beloved daughter of this high-minded one. When once thou hast gladdened Devayānī through a virtuous character, skill, friendliness, right living, and self-control, then thou wilt of a surety win this charm for awakening the dead.’ ” Çukra takes him. “ So as to win the favour of both, the youth would ever gladden Devayānī with singing, dancing, and music. He waited on the maiden, who was in her youth, and rejoiced her with flowers, fruits, and services. Devayānī, too, secretly gave careful heed to this Brahman youth who zealously carried out vows and holy works, as she sang and trifled before him.” The Dānavas, however, saw him in the forest as he was herding his teacher’s cows, questioned him, and killed and cut him up, and gave him to the wolves to eat, all out of enmity towards Bṛhaspati, and in order that the magic for bringing back to life, so useful to them, should not become known to the gods.