Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c12.36

v2.c12.36

Very frequent in Indian literature, and often found in the Epic also, is the “act of truth”, especially in the case of pure wives. In later Hindu tales this is, indeed, often undertaken without good reason.² But the Epic knows nothing of cynical jests such as these. Thus, for instance, Sītā also protests her obedience and her faithfulness to Rāma, and so forces the fire on Hanumant’s tail, in spite of all its glow, to be quite cold (Rām., v, 53.25 ff.).