Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.86

v1.c5.86

daughter?” The glorious one would answer him: “Very much so.” At that Kuntibhoja, the high-minded one, felt the greatest joy. When, after a year had gone by, that best of the prayer-mutterers had seen no evil deeds in Pṛthā, he was delighted at her goodwill. Now when his heart had become filled with joy, the Brahman spoke to her: “I am highly rejoiced at thy services, thou dear and fair one; choose gifts of grace for thyself, O sweet one, such as are hard here on earth for man to win, that so through them thou mayest outshine all women in splendour.” Kuntī spoke: “For me all is fulfilled, since thou, O best among the knowers of the Veda, and my father are sweet-minded towards me. What should I do with gifts of grace, O Brahman?” The Brahman spoke: “If thou, kind, bright-smiling one, wishest for no gifts of grace from me, then take from me these words of magic for calling up the heaven-dwellers. Whatsoever god thou dost call up by this magic spell, he must be obedient to thee; whether he will or no, he will come up under the spell of thy command; tamed by the magic, the god will bow to thee like a servant.” The blameless one could not then refuse the best of Brahmans a second time, fearing his curse. Thereupon the twice-born one made the maiden with the faultless limbs take the set of words which stands in the Atharvaṇiras. But when he had given it her, he spoke unto Kuntibhoja: “I have dwelt pleasantly, O king, satisfied by the maiden, ever well honoured, while I was lodged in thy house. Now I will set forth.” With these words he vanished. When the king now saw the Brahman vanish before his very eyes, he was overcome with astonishment, and did honour to Pṛthā.