Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.52.2

v1.c5.52.2

Then when Çukra had seen his daughter in the forest, he clasped her in his arms and spoke the words: “Through their own misdeeds (in an earlier being) all men do compel happiness and unhappiness to themselves.¹ I think thou hast done some evil, and the punishment for it has been thus inflicted.” Devayānī spoke: “Never mind about punishment! Listen carefully to me: Is it true what Çarmisṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, said unto me? She said thou wert the singer of the Daityas. That is what I was told by Çarmisṭhā, Vṛṣaparvan’s daughter, in sharp, bitter words, with her eyes deep-reddened by anger: ‘Thou art but the daughter of him that praises; that ever asks and accepts; but I am the daughter of him that is praised, that bestows and never accepts.’ That is what Çarmiṣṭhā, Vṛṣaparvan’s daughter, said to me over and over again with anger-reddened eyes and filled with pride. Father, if I am the daughter of him that praises and accepts, then will I beg forgiveness of Çarmiṣṭhā. That I have said to my friend.” Çukra spoke : “Thou art not the daughter of one that praises, that asks, that accepts; the daughter thou art of one that praises not, of one that is praised, Devayānī. Vṛṣaparvan knows that, and Indra and King Yayāti. For the Brahman that is beyond all thinking and has nothing twofold is my kingly power.¹ And whatever there be anywhere in heaven and earth,² I am ever proclaimed as its lord by the rejoicing, self-sprung being (Brahma).