Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.114

v2.c11.114

Among the gods there are by no means few who show mortals the best example. “ Bhadrā was the daughter of Soma (the moon god), held to be first among women for beauty. Soma deemed Utathya a husband worthy of her. And she, the peerless, the glorious one, for Utathya’s sake gave herself up to strict penance, practising the loftiest mortification, she with the lovely limbs. Then Soma called Utathya to him, and gave him the splendid one to wife, and the pious man took her in lawful wise. But already before this the lordly Varuṇa had loved her, and he came to Vanaprastha¹ on the Yamunā, and carried her off. And when the lord of waters had carried her off, he brought her to his city, which is a wonder beyond compare to the eye, to the place of the six thousand lakes. For no other splendid city is fairer than this, which shines with palaces, Apsarases, and heavenly delights. Then the god, the lord of the waters, took his delight with her. Then the news was told Utathya of this shame done to his wife.² So soon as Utathya had heard all this from Nārada, he spoke unto Nārada : ‘Go, speak these sharp words to Varuṇa : Give up my wife at my bidding ! Why hast thou carried her away ? Thou art a warden unto the worlds, not a world-destroyer. Soma gave me my wife, and now thou hast robbed me of her.’ Thus at his bidding was the lord of waters addressed by Nārada : ‘Give up the wife of Utathya ! Why hast thou carried her off ?’ When Varuṇa had heard these his words, he spoke : ‘She is my much-loved wife ; I cannot give her