Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c7.62.3

v1.c7.62.3

Thee, as the husband of my friend, I have chosen.” Yayāti spoke : “To him that asks must be given, this rule of life I have taken for mine.² And thou art asking me for the fulfilment of a wish. Speak, what can I do for thee ?” Çarmishṭhā spoke : “Keep me from a wrong, O king, and let me share in the law³ ; granted offspring by thee, let me practise in the world the highest holy law. Three there are, O king, that cannot own anything : the wife, the slave, and the child ; that which they acquire is the property of him who owns them.⁴ I am the slave of Devayānī, and she is in thy power : I and she belong to thee for thy pleasure ; enjoy me, O king.” Thus addressed, the king acknowledged this, and said : “True it is” ; he honoured Çarmishṭhā, and let her share in the holy law. She then bore him a lotus-eyed boy like a child of the gods, and then two more besides. But Devayānī found out these deeds of pious devotion,⁵ and at first bitterly reproached Çarmishṭhā. But she made answer: "I have acted in accordance with law and virtue, and therefore I fear thee not. When thou didst choose thy husband, I, too, chose him. For the husband, according to the law, becomes the friend's husband. Thou art for me worthy of honour and respect, thou art the first wife and the Brahman lady, but for me still worthier of honour is the kingly Ṛiṣi;