Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c6.57

v1.c6.57

of Magadha, wedded the two lovely twin-daughters of the prince of Kāci. “While he lay sunk in sensual enjoyment, his youth¹ went by him, and no son, no upholder of the line was born to him. With luck-bringing things (maṅgala), many fiery sacrifices, and smaller offerings aimed at a son, the best of the herdsmen of men yet got no son to carry on the family.” Then in despair he went off with his wives into the penitential forest.² One day he there heard that the great ascetic Caṇḍakauçika had happened to come thither, and was sitting by a tree. Together with his wives he waited on him³ with most earnest feelings. The rejoiced penitent told him to choose a favour for himself.” Then Bṛhadratha bowed low and spoke unto him, his voice choked with tears, for he despaired of seeing a son : “O glorious and holy man, I have forsaken a kingdom, and have come into the penitential forest. What could I, an unhappy man do with a favour, what should I, a childless man, do with a kingdom!” Moved to sorrow by these words, the holy man took his seat under a mango-tree. Then there fell onto his lap a juicy mango-fruit that no parrot had pecked at.⁴ This he wrapped with mantras, speaking in his heart, gave it, without compare and bestowing sons, to the prince, and spoke: "Go home again; thy wish is fulfilled." The king gave it to both wives so as not to hurt one of them; they divided the wonderful gift and ate it. But then, alas, each of them bore half a little human being!¹ They had these lumps of flesh exposed outside the city by their nurses. But a Rākṣasī found the misbirths, put the two halves together, and a strong boy came out of them, which she had handed over to the king.