Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.73

v2.c11.73

According to the agreement the Pāṇḍavas have to spend the thirteenth year of exile somewhere in hiding and unknown. They hire themselves out in various positions at the court of King Virāṭa : Yudhishṭhira as steward of the prince's gambling-house (sabhāstara), Bhīma as his cook, and circus wrestler, Arjuna as a eunuch in woman's clothes, and as teacher of dancing and music to the young princess and her companions, and so forth. Draupadī goes as chambermaid and coiffeuse into the service of Queen Sudeshṇā; and they succeed in keeping quite unknown. But at the end of ten months Kīcaka, the queen's brother, the leader of the army, and all-powerful favourite, gets to see the dazzlingly beautiful maid, and is fired with love for her. In glowing words he sings the praises of all her charms from the eyes down to her pubic parts, vaulted like a river-island, paints his agony of love, beseeches her to save him, and shows her how mistaken she is to wish to live as a lowly maid. He offers himself to her as husband and slave, and says he will cast off his wives, and make them the servants of the servant that now is, and give her all the earth's delights to taste. He is, he tells her, the real ruler in the land, and none on earth is his equal in beauty, youthful bloom, success with women, wealth, and other splendid things. But she bids him bethink himself what a heavy crime, what a shameful deed, and how dangerous a thing it is ever to touch another's wife. Moreover, she says, she is the wife of five hot-tempered Gandharvas, who would kill him. Whether he were to penetrate into the earth, or fly up into the air, or flee to the other shore of the sea, he cannot escape these all-destroying sons of the gods, these cleavers of the air. He is as the child sitting in its mother's lap and wanting to clutch the moon. Kīcaka now took refuge behind his sister, and by his desperate plaints moved her to take pity and help him. Following her directions he made a feast ready, and set out much food and heady drink. Then Sudeshṇā bade her maid : “ Arise and go into Kīcaka’s house, O kind one, and fetch me something to drink ; I am tortured by thirst.” Draupadī answered : “ I would fain not go into his house. Thou thyself, O queen, knowest well how shameless he is. And I wish not in thine house to follow the lust of the flesh, nor sin against my husband. Kīcaka, indeed, O thou with the lovely hair, is blinded, and over-daring in love. He will bring dishonour on me, if he sees me. I shall not go there, O fair one. Thou hast many serving-women standing at thy bidding. Send thou another, for he will show me the little esteem he has for me.” Sudeshṇā spoke : “ He will never do thee any hurt, if thou art sent by me.” With these words she gave her the golden vessel, fitted with a lid. Weeping and filled with fear, Draupadī went. Kīcaka called out to her right gladly :