Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c6.149.1

v1.c6.149.1

And the parent's heart in Old India often quavered for the child still living, especially if it was the only one. On this an excellent tale was told (iii, 127 f.) : “ There was a pious king, Somaka by name. He had a hundred wives of his own rank. But in spite of every most strenuous endeavour the prince had no son by them even after a long time. One day among his hundred wives there was then born to the old man, who used every care and endeavour, a son named Jantu. When he had seen the light of day, all his mothers constantly circled round him, and turned their backs on all wishes and pleasures. An ant now once bit Jantu on the buttocks, and at the bite the child called out loudly with pain. Then all his mothers screamed in violent distress, standing quickly in a ring round Jantu ; there was a great uproar. These cries of distress were suddenly heard by the ruler of the earth, as he sat in the midst of the council of his ministers with his sacrificial priest. The lord of the earth sent and asked : ‘ What is that ? ’ The doorkeeper told him what had happened to his son. Quickly Somaka, the queller of his foes, rose up with his councillors, went off to the women’s apartments, and soothed his son. When the prince had soothed his son, he left the women’s apartments, and seated himself together with his sacrificial priest and his ministers of state. Somaka spoke : ‘ Grievous it is, when a man has but one son on earth! It were better to have no son.