Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c13.87.3

v2.c13.87.3

‘I belong to the Çālva,’ said she to me myself before this, and it was with my leave that she went to the city. Neither from fear nor pity nor greed, nor to please anyone will I be unfaithful to the warrior's laws; this vow I did undertake.” But Rāma was angered, the more so since Bhīshma had been his disciple, and was thus under the duty of obedience to him. The unshakable one, however, for all his reverence for his teacher stood his ground: “Who would want to take into his house a woman that loves another man, and bears herself like a snake-woman, if he knows of it? A fault in women¹ brings great harm. If the teacher is overbearing, if he knows not what must be done, and what must be left undone, if he goes astray, then according to the holy ordinance he shall be given up.” After further proud and challenging words between the two, they made ready to fight. Bhīshma's mother tried to reconcile them, but without success. Through many days lasted the struggle between the two picked fighters, but in the end Rāma had to declare himself beaten. Thus had Ambā's thirst for vengeance been left unquenched. But she did not yield, but with rage in her eyes she exclaimed: “Then I will go whither I myself shall bring down Bhīshma in the fight.” For twelve years she submitted to the most dreadful chastisements in the Indian list of penances, then visited various holy bathing-places, and there carried out cleansings. After that