Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c7.62.4

v1.c7.62.4

how dost thou not know that?" With weeping eyes and angry soul Devayānī now hastened off to her father, and complained to him that right had been overcome by wrong, for Ṣarmiṣṭhā had outdone her and humiliated her: with Ṣarmiṣṭhā Yayāti had begotten three sons, and with her herself only two.¹ The king, who had hastily followed her, made excuses: "Because she asked me for the ṛitu, O holy man, and from no other reason did I do this rightful service to the daughter of the Dānava prince. If a woman asks for the ṛitu, and a man does not give her the ṛitu, then by them that know the holy writings he is declared to be an embryo-slayer. And he who, having been secretly asked, does not approach a woman that is seized with desire and is meet for union, is, in the laws, called by the wise a slayer of the fruit of the body. These considerations I had before me, and, moved by fear of doing a wrong, I went to Ṣarmiṣṭhā." But with the angry father, deeply devoted to his daughter, these considerations availed not (i, 82, 83).