Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.61.4

v1.c5.61.4

I will choose no other husband in the world.” C̣ukra spoke : “ Chosen by this my beloved daughter, take her for thy chief wife; I give her thee, O son of Nahusha.” Yayāti spoke : “ May this great hurt done to the law that comes from the mingling of the castes not be avenged here on me, O scion of the Bhṛigu. On this condition I take thee, O Brahman, as father-in-law.” C̣ukra spoke : “ I absolve thee from the hurt to the law. Choose for thyself a favour thou wouldst have. Do not be despondent on account of this marriage.¹ I will drive the evil away from thee. Take thou the slender Devayānī home as thy wife according to the law and custom, and with her win incomparable joy. And this maiden, too, Vṛishaparvan’s daughter, C̣armishthā, shalt thou always honour, O king; and do not call her onto thy bed.” Thus addressed, King Yayāti walked round C̣ukra to the right, and celebrated the happy wedding in the way laid down by the books of instruction. After he had got from C̣ukra many things and the most splendid Devayānī, together with two thousand girls and C̣armishthā, and had been honoured by C̣ukra and the Daityas, the best of princes came into his city, filled with joy, having taken leave of the high-minded one.”