Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.172

v2.c11.172

to Arjuna by the gate-keepers. She came into this faultless house, that was very delightful to the heart. With a mind filled with anxious doubts he came to meet her in the night. And so soon as Pṛthā’s son had seen Urvaçī, his eyes were dimmed with shame, and as he greeted her, he showed her the respect that is shown to those of high station. Arjuna spoke: ‘I bow my head before thee in greeting, thou most excellent of the most excellent Apsarases. Command me, goddess; I have come to thee humbly as thy servant.’” Urvaçī was utterly taken aback by these words, and explained to him at some length that at the singing and dancing which the Apsarases had performed in his honour, he had steadily gazed at her and her only, and that his father, her lord, had sent her. “In obedience to him I have come to thee, O queller of foes, drawn by thy charms and by my heart, and having fallen into the power of the god of love; for I, too, O hero, have for long been cherishing this wish.” But Arjuna, seized with shame, stopped his ears so as not to hear such words, and declared that he had looked on her thus respectfully as being the ancestress of his family, and that for him she was the wife of a high personage. “Urvaçī spoke: ‘We are all free and unfettered,¹ O son of the king of the gods. Do not allot me the position of one of high standing, O hero; for all sons and grandsons in Puru’s race that come hither delight us (Apsarases) through their ascetic merit, and do no wrong by it. Therefore be kind, and send me not away in my need; love and enjoy me, who love thee, and am fired with passion, O thou my pride.’ But Arjuna was not to be shaken, and honoured her as his mother. Then was Urvaçī overcome with rage; quivering, with brows drawn awry, she cursed the winner of booty: ‘Since thou wilt not give me welcome, me who had leave given me by thy father, and have come to thy house of my own accord, under the sway of the god of love, therefore, O son of Pṛthā, shalt thou live as a dancer amidst women, bereft of honour, known as a eunuch, living as an impotent man.’ When she had thus laid the curse on Arjuna, Urvaçī went swiftly, with twitching lips and breathing heavily, back into her abode.” When Father Indra learned of the business, he spoke with a smile to his virtuous son: “In thee Pṛthā has a good son; thou hast outdone even the holy men with thy staunchness." This tale, however, once more shows : If a foolish man will not when a foolish woman will, then he has to pay for it heavily (cp. Mahābh., xiii, 23.75).