Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.83

v1.c5.83

But when Kuntibhoja, the greatly famed, had thus spoken, he gave Pṛthā over to this Brahman, he the friend to Brahmans. "This, O Brahman, is my daughter, a child of tender breeding; if she makes a mistake in any wise thou must not take it to heart. The Brahmans, they marked out by destiny, never in general harbour anger against the aged, children and the sick who may offend against them. Even when the sin is great the twice-born must show a patient forgiveness. Accept thou the honour shown to the best of her strength and powers, O best among Brahmans.” The Brahman agreed, and the king with a glad heart allotted him a house, white as the swan and the shimmering moon. There he offered him at the place of the holy fire a shining seat made ready, food, and the like, and all this just as it should be.¹ But as the king’s daughter threw off weariness and likewise pride, she took the utmost pains to please the Brahman. Thither to the Brahman Pṛthā went, thinking only of purity, and rejoiced him, him worthy of service, according to precept like a god. So did the maid living under a strict vow now rejoice with pure soul the Brahman living under a strict vow. Often the best of Brahmans spoke : “ I shall come in the morning,” and then came back at evening or in the night. And this maid did ever do honour to him at all hours of the day with hard and soft foods and with comforts, which both ever more excelled. The care given him with food and the like, as also that for bed and seat, grew greater, not less, day by day. And even though the Brahman might scold Pṛthā, abuse her, and utter evil words against her, O king, yet she did nothing then to annoy him. He would come back again at different times, or often not at all, and of some dish very hard to get he would say : “ Give it me !” And as she brought him all this to his liking, so soon as it was made, bearing herself well, like a scholar, a son, a sister, she aroused heartfelt approval in the excelling Brahman, she the pearl of maidens, the stainless one. The best of Brahmans was gladdened at her virtuous ways; then she took the very greatest pains² with still greater heed. At morning and evening her father would ask her : “ Is the Brahman pleased with thy service,