[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915) › v2.c11.166 # Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.166 Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.166 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c11.166](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v2.c11.166) But if the woman is in love, and, anyhow, believes herself loved, then in Old India, as is well known, she usually goes herself to the house of her loved one for her purpose.² Of this a good example in Urvaçī, the heavenly hetæra, is given by the Epic (iii, 45, 46), which, indeed, here also, is far removed from the over-refinement of the classical literature, and chooses to make Kīcaka go into the house of the chambermaid Draupadī. Arjuna’s eyes during his visit to Indra’s heaven have been unwaveringly fixed on this Apsaras, and his very indulgent father, Indra, so versed in the things of love, is gladdened by the son who evidently has not fallen away, and who as a guest must be provided with what he needs in this direction. Therefore through the Gandharva Citrasena as messenger and pander, he suggests, as already told, to this Ninon of heaven that she should make Arjuna happy. By the description of the manly beauty of this youth recommended to her favour, she, too, is fired with a hot love, and gives her consent. She bathes and then adorns herself most splendidly, filled with the most ardent yearning for the hero. “When the moon had risen, and early night had come, the broad-hipped one went forth and sought out the house of Pṛthā’s son. Shining in her soft, curly, long hair, wherein she wore many jasmine-flowers, the heart-breaker went her way. With the moon of her countenance, and the delight of the movements of its brows, and the sweetness of the words tripping from her mouth, with her charm and her soft loveliness, she seemed to be challenging the moon as she walked along. As she went along, her breasts, scented with a heavenly salve, black-nippled, rubbed with heaven’s sandalwood, and shining from her necklace, were shaken up and down. Through the upborne burden of her breasts, and the sharp movements of them she was bowed down at every step,¹ she with the surpassing splendour of the centre of her body,² gloriously girdled around by the three folds. Below shimmered, spread out like a mountain, swelling on high like a hill-side,³ the place of the temple of the god of love,⁴ ringed by dazzling splendour, adorned by the girdle’s band, tempting with heart-stirrings even the divine Rishis, the faultless seat of shame, wrapped in thin garb. Her feet, in which the ankles were deep imbedded, and whose toes made red and long-stretched expanses, glittered, being hung with small bells, and arched like the turtle’s back. Her appearance was made still more captivating by her having partaken of heady drink, and by her contented joy, by the love within her, and by her various sweet wiles. With Siddhas, Cāraṇas, and Gandharvas the coquettish beauty went along, even in heaven, of a truth, where there are many wonders, a figure right worthy of remark, with her thinnest of upper garments that shimmered with the colours of the clouds, and like unto the slender sickle of the moon in the sky, as it rides along, wrapped in clouds. Then did the brightly smiling one reach, in but a moment, the abode of Arjuna, son of Pāṇḍu, hastening like the spirit, like the wind. When she had come to the gate there, Urvaçī, she with the lovely eyes, was announced - [Previous: v2.c11.165](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v2.c11.165) - [Next: v2.c11.167](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v2.c11.167) - [Up: v2.c11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v2.c11) ## Linked texts (1) - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v2.c11.166](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v2.c11.166) · Pramāṇa