Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c6.122.3

v1.c6.122.3

And if married men and women were granted offspring, then they proved thankful, too, especially, of course, if it was male offspring. Just as the Old Indian literature in general stands out through its pictures of the tenderest family life, so the Epic gives us, too, beautiful glimpses into this delightful world. We have a very sweet song on the happiness of family and children from the lips of a woman in the words of Çakuntalā (i, 74). She first paints a glowing picture for King Dushyanta of the true wife and the blessing she brings; then she goes on (çl. 53 ff.): “When the son runs up to his father, covered with the earth’s dust (in which he has been playing), and clasps his limbs, what could there be more glorious than that! . . . Not the touching of garments nor of beautiful women nor of water is to compare, is so pleasing as the touching of the son who is being clasped. The Brahman is best among the two-footed, the cow excels most among the four-footed, the best among the revered is the teacher, the son is the fairest of all that men touch. . . . Yes, men, when they have gone into another village, (at their home-coming) joyfully welcome their children, taking them, lovingly onto their lap and smelling their heads.¹ And the