Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.18.1

v2.c11.18.1

The minister who was seeking for the king, the best of princes, with an army, then¹ along with his following saw him fallen to the ground in the great forest, like the raised banner of Indra.² When the king’s comrade saw the great bowman lying thus on the ground like an outcast, he was kindled as though with a fire, and he hurried towards him, seized by a tumult of distress owing to his tender affection, and put the prince, overcome with love, the lord of earthly rulers, on his feet, like a father his son that has fallen. When the minister, who was old in understanding, years of life, renown, and state wisdom, had set him up, the feverish pain left him. And he spoke to him that was raised with loving, sweet words : ‘ Fear not, O tiger of men; hail to thee, thou good man !’ He believed that the prince, exhausted from hunger and thirst, he the destruction of the foe in the fight, had fallen to the ground. With very cool, lotus-scented water he sprinkled the king’s head, tearing off his diadem.¹ Thereupon the life-spirits came back to the herdsman of men, and the mighty one dismissed his army, except this one counsellor. Then at the king’s command the great army withdrew; the king sat himself down again on that plateau. Then in those lordly mountains he stood there on earth, having acquired ritual purity, his hands folded before his forehead, and his face lifted upwards, to bring the sun god’s favour on himself.