Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.69.3

v1.c5.69.3

I am the prince of Laṅkā, dear one, famed under the name of Daçagrīva. Come, be my wife ; take thy fill of pleasures as thy heart may wish. And who is he thou callest Viṣṇu ? In valour, asceticism, wealth, strength, O dear one, he is not my equal, whom thou, O fair one, yearnest after.” But as he thus spoke, this maiden Vedavatī made answer to the night-spirit : “ No, do not speak thus ! Who with any understanding but thee, O Rākshasa prince, could wish to scorn Viṣṇu, the overlord of the three worlds, held in honour by the whole world ?” Thus addressed by Vedavatī, the night-spirit clutched the maiden by the hair with his fingers. Then Vedavatī, filled with anger, cut off her hair with her hand ; her hand became a sword, and cut the hair away. As though aflame with wrath, as though burning up the night-spirit, having laid a fire, she spoke, filled with haste to die : “ Since shame has been put on me by thee, thou base one, I will not live. O Rakshas, that is why I go before thine eyes into the fire. Since I have had shame put on me by thee, evil-minded one, in the forest, therefore will I be born again to thy destruction. For a woman cannot slay the man bent on evil. And should I utter my curse on thee, then my mortification would come to nought. But if I have won any merit through deed, gift, and