Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.95

v1.c5.95

In spite, however, of her many friendly words, this sensible maiden could not soften the thousand-beamed one. When the young girl could not send off the scarer of darkness, she pondered now for a while, filled with fear of his curse : “ How shall it be that the curse of this wrathful sun god may not, because of me, light upon my father and likewise the Brahman ? And he that is young and foolish must not through blindness let fiery strength and the power of penitence, which, indeed, have brought much disaster, come near unto him. For how can I, who am now so tortured, how can I myself boldly take in hand and carry out my bestowal on the man, which does not befit me ?” Dreading the curse, with many wavering thoughts in her heart, gripped in her limbs by a swimming weakness, smiling ever and again, and filled with anxiety for her kindred, the curse-afeared one spoke to the god in a voice quivering with shame : “ My father is alive, O god, and my mother and my other kinsfolk. So long as they still live let not the holy precept be thus broken. If the unlawful union with thee should come about, O god, then the good name of my family in the world would come to nought because of me. But if thou holdest this to be right and virtuous, O best of the shining ones, without the bestowal by my kindred, then I will fulfil thy wish. But if I have given myself up to thee, O thou so hard to overcome, then I am an unchaste woman. In thee abides the right, the splendour, and the good name of mankind.” The sun god spoke : “ Neither father, mother, nor dignitaries have any power in this,¹ O thou with the bright smile and fair hips.