Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c7.27

v1.c7.27

adultery, it is only the man who sins in this.¹ The greatest thing of all for the woman, according to the tradition, is the husband, he is her highest godhead. But now she has given him her own self, that stands equal to his self, as the highest thing.² On women no sin is laid, only the man sins ; since in all cases it is women who have to let themselves be the object of sin, so women do not sin. And since from the woman's side no invitation³ has gone to him to satisfy the desire for love, the wrongdoing is undoubtedly his, who clearly gave the call to it. But even the unreasoning beasts would thence know that a woman, and moreover the mother that is in highest honour, must not be killed. In the father is seen the whole assemblage of the divinities united in one person ; but in the mother, because of her love, we come to the whole assemblage of mortals and gods.”⁴ While in this wise he pondered deeply because of his slow doing, a long time went by him. Then his father came up, the very wise Medhātithi, that Gautama living an ascetic life, having during this time weighed the offence against the established order done by his wife. In great torment he spoke, shedding tears in his pain, filled with remorse by the helping grace of his holy knowledge, and firmness of character : “ Into my hermitage came Indra, the ruler of the world, the shatterer of strongholds, giving himself out as a guest, and taking a Brahman's shape. Friendly words I spoke to him, and honoured him with a joyful welcome ; guest water and water for the feet I brought him, as is seemly. And if he is told, ‘ I am at thy bidding,’ he will then start love-making.⁵ If then something evil happened, it is not