Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.18.3

v2.c11.18.3

Saṃvaraṇa is a fitting husband for thy daughter, O wanderer through the air.’ Thus bespoken by him, the maker of day resolved: ‘I will give her,’ and answered the Brahman with joyful consent: ‘Saṃvaraṇa is first among princes, and thou, O Muni, art first among Rishis, Tapatī is above all women. What else could there be, then, but to make grant of her!’ Thereupon the shining one himself handed over the shining one (Tapatī), her without fault in any limb, to the high-souled Vasisṭha for Saṃvaraṇa. Then did the great Rishi take over the maid Tapatī, and, dismissed (by the sun god), Vasisṭha now came back again to where that Kuru bull known to fame, the king filled with love’s unrest, was waiting, and in mind was by her side only. And when he saw the maiden of the gods, the sweet-laughing Tapatī coming to him with Vasisṭha, he was lit up with overflowing joy. She of the lovely brows shone exceeding bright as she was wafted down from the sky, lighting up the quarters of the world with flashes like a falling flash of lightning. When scarcely twelve days had gone by, Vasisṭha, the august Rishi with the pure soul, came to the king.¹ After Saṃvaraṇa had brought the god that grants wishes, the prince of the beams, the lord, to be favourable to him, he won his wife only through the majesty of Vasisṭha. Then did the bull among men take hold of the hand of Tapatī in lawful wise on that prince of mountains, the resort of gods and Gandharvas.