Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c12.20

v2.c12.20

bear their children in great torment, O my lord, and rear them with true and tender love, O bull among the twice-born. And they, living amidst all the cruel conditions,¹ looked on with loathing, fulfil their duty always—this I deem to be a hard thing. Show unto me, O twice-born one, the true essence of their way of life, based on that of warriors and with warriors’ duties; hard to attain to, O Brahman, is the virtue of the very glorious ones because of (all) the malice (cruelty).² As to this I would fain hear, holy and august one, as to this question, thou most excellent of those wise in questions, foremost of the race of Bhrigu. I am hearkening unto thee, thou pious man.’ Mārkaṇḍeya spoke: ‘ ’Tis well, I will enlighten thee according to the truth on this question, which is very hard to explain. Hearken unto it from me, while I speak of it. Some grant the greater respect to the mothers, others to the fathers.³ The mother, who brings up the children, carries through a heavy task. Through asceticism, sacrifices to the gods, worship, patience, magic, and other means the fathers seek to get sons. When thus they have won the son, so hard to obtain, then they are ever thinking, O hero, what kind of man he will become. For the father and mother hope from their sons for fame, glory, and power, offspring, and religious merit, O child of the Bharatas. He that lets their hope bear fruit is one with a knowledge of duty, and he from whom the father and mother have ever joy, O ruler above kings, has here in this life and after death fame and everlasting virtuous merit; no sacrificial deeds, no gifts to forefathers, no fasting is like this.¹ But through