Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c7.72

v1.c7.72

King Uparicara was more thoughtful and kindlier to women than this holy man and his disciple, for he sent off the longed for fluid to his beloved wife at this critical time by bird post. At the bidding of his forefathers, he had to go off to hunt, just when his wife was ready for impregnation (ṛitusnātā).¹ Now he was roving the forest, obedient to the call of his forefathers, but his thoughts were away at home with Girikā, his young beloved one, who was surpassingly lovely, like unto another Lakshmī. Spring had made its entry, and the trees were glorious with the splendour of their flowers and their weight of fruit; the kokilas sang their sweetest, and, all around, the honey-drunken bees were humming. By love his soul was held, but he could not see Girikā. As he went along thus tortured with longing, he happened to behold a delightful aṣoka-tree; the tips of its boughs were strewn with flowers, young shoots adorned it, and it was covered with clustering blossoms, honey-sweet was the smell of it, and it charmed by the scent of its flowers. Under this tree the prince of men sat himself down, taking his ease in the shade. But inspired by the wind, he gave himself up to the joyful lust after darkness' deed (sexual union). Then his seed spurted forth, as he tarried in the thick forest. And as soon as the seed had spurted out, the lord of the earth put it on the leaf of a tree, thinking with himself: " My seed shall not fall fruitlessly." " This seed of mine shall not have spurted forth to no end," that was his thought. " And may my wife's ṛitu not be lost," this was the thought of the ruler. As now the prince thus pondered and weighed, and as the best of kings recognized the fruitfulness of the seed, and reflected that it was the right time to send it to his wife, therefore he now uttered a spell over it with holy words, went to a swift-flying falcon that was standing afar off, and said to him, who knew the delicate essence of religious duty and of worldly advantage: " My friend, carry thou this seed into my house. Hand it over speedily to Girikā; for now is the very time of her ṛitu." The falcon, the impetuous one, took it, flew swiftly up, hastened away with his utmost speed of flight; thus did the air-wanderer. Then another falcon saw this falcon coming, who at once, when he saw him, swooped down on him, for he thought he was carrying a piece of flesh. Then the two started to fight in the air with their beaks. As they fought, the seed fell down into the waters of the Yamunā. And lo! in it was living an Apsaras in the shape of a she-fish by Brahma's curse, who swallowed the seed. In the tenth month after this had happened the fish was caught and cut open. They found in its body a boy and a girl. The girl became the famed Satyavatī, at first afflicted by a fishy smell, whom then the king, her father, handed over to a fisherman, and who, while she was working the ferry for him, gave the gift of life to Vyāsa. The boy, her brother, as King Matsya (" Fish "), prince of the Fish-folk (Matsya), won himself a name (i, 63.36 ff.).