Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.86

v2.c11.86

“Do thou now make this condition with me, O Kīcaka : no friend or brother of thine must know that thou meetest me. If there is evil speech of me, I am afeard of the glorious Gandharvas.¹ Promise me this, and I will do as thou willest.” Kīcaka spoke : “Thus will I do, as thou sayest, O thou with the lovely hips. Alone I shall come into thy lonely abode, to unite with thee in the madness of love, so that the Gandharvas, shining as the sun, may not see thee.” “Come thou by darkness into the dancing-hall that was built by the king of the Matsyas. By day the maidens dance there, at night they go home. This the Gandharvas will not remark. There is a surety we shall avoid any harm.” As Draupadī talked on of this thing, to Kīcaka the half-day seemed as a month.² Then Kīcaka went to his house, overwhelmed with joy ; in his blindness he marked not his death in the form of the waiting-maid. Being much given to scents, ornaments, and wreaths, he hastily adorned himself, mazed with love. While he was thus busied, the time seemed to him very long, for he thought but of that great-eyed one. Right splendid did he look, just when he was to leave his splendour behind, like a light when it is about to fade away, and strives to use up its wick to the end. Draupadī slipped away to Bhīma, told him all, and once more with strong words called on him to bring the haughty one, who used contemptuous words about her Gandharva husbands, to his end. Wild with rage, he boasted he would tread down Kīcaka’s head, as the elephant does a bilva-fruit, and slay all the Matsyas, and then Duryodhana, and rule over the earth ; Yudhiṣṭhira could stay on as a servant to his heart’s desire. But she impressed on him that he must carry out the vengeful deed in secret. In the night the thirster after love came into the hall deep in darkness, and spoke with a heart stirred with joy : “Mine house and my women’s apartment, adorned with fair-shaped, most pleasing young women, and bright with merriment and love’s pleasures—all this I have left for thy sake, and have come hither.¹ Quite of their own accord (akasmāt) the women that are in the house do constantly sing my praises : ‘Fair-clad, and a sight of splendour art thou, and no other man is equal to thee.’” Bhīmasena called out :