Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.61.2

v1.c5.61.2

Look on it as the gift of fate, and do not make divers speeches. Thy form and garb are those of a king, and thou speakest the speech of the Brahmans (Sanskrit). Who and whence art thou, and whose son? Tell me.” Yayāti spoke : “As a pupil of the Brahmans I have heard the whole Veda, I am a king and a king’s son, famous under the name of Yayāti.” Devayānī spoke : “Why didst thou come this way? Wouldst thou take something dwelling in the water, or hunt the gazelle?” Yayāti spoke : “While hunting gazelle, O kindly one, I came hither for water. But now thou hast well questioned me.¹ Give me leave, therefore, to go.” Devayānī spoke : “With two thousand girls and my slave Ḍarmishṭhā I am at thy bidding. Prithee, be my friend and my husband.” Yayāti spoke : “Know thou, O daughter of Uçana, an it please thee, I am not worthy of thee, O lovely one. For thy father cannot be father-in-law to kings.” Devayānī spoke : “The warrior nobility is closely bound to the Brahmans, the Brahmans are linked with the warrior nobility. Come now, son of Nahusha, do thou wed me as a Ṛishi and a Ṛishi’s son.” Yayāti spoke : “Although the four castes, O fair woman, come from one body, yet have they varying duties and varying rules for purity; of them the Brahman is the first.” Devayānī spoke : “Such a hand-grasp (as thine) men have not so far practised. Thou didst grasp my hand before, therefore do I ask of thee to be my husband.