Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.24

v2.c11.24

Vasistha then took his leave of the prince, and went away. The king now took his delight on that mountain, like an immortal. For twelve years did the king find his pleasure in this wise together with his wife in groves and forests on that mountain. In this king's city and in his kingdom he with the thousand eyes (Indra) did not rain in all the twelve long years. Then when this drought came all creatures fell to destruction, those that move not and those that move. While this very dreadful time thus prevailed, no dew came down on the earth, and therefore the seeds grew not. Then did mankind with minds bewildered, tormented by hunger and dread, leave their houses and wander forth to every quarter of the heavens. Then in this city and this kingdom folk gave up wife and possessions, and slew one another, released from law and order, tortured with hunger. So did this city with its hungry, foodless people, turned to (living) corpses, seem like the city of the king of the dead, filled with the dead.¹ When the holy Rishi Vasistha saw what was happening, he with the soul of virtue, the best of the Munis came thither.¹ And he had the tiger among princes, who had been away together with Tapaī far off for endless years,² brought home to this city. Then the slayer of the foes of the gods rained there as before. So soon as this tiger among princes had come into the city once more, the mighty one of the thousand eyes made rain to fall and so the crops to grow. Then did that city and the kingdom rejoice with joy beyond compare, raised up by this the foremost one of earthly rulers, by him that was lofty in soul. Then did the high herdsman of men, with his wife, make sacrifice for twelve years in return, as Indra with Çacī. Thus was the excelling one, Tapaī by name, the sun god's daughter, thy forbear,³ O Arjuna, because of whom I declare thee for a child of Tapaī. By her King Saṃvaraṇa begot Kuru.”