Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c16.24

v2.c16.24

Of real intercourse with the dead husband, and children thus begotten, we are told in a “ tale from days of yore ” (paurāṇī kathā) ¹ : “ There was once a king, renowned under the name of Vyushitāçva, most rich in virtue, a successor to the blood of Pūru. When this man of virtuous soul, the strong armed one, sacrificed, then came thither the gods together with Indra, and the godlike Ṛishis. Indra became drunk with the soma, and the Brahmans from the wages of sacrifice at Vyushitāçva’s sacrifice, the high-minded royal Ṛishi’s. The gods and the Brahman Ṛishis carried out the sacrificial rite at that very place. Hence Vyushitāçva shone upon mortal men as the glowing son shines on all beings at the time when winter is over. This best of princes overcame the kings in the east and the north, in the west and in the south, took them captive, and led them forth with him to the great sacrifice, to the horse-sacrifice, Vyushitāçva the splendid. For this king was gifted with the strength of ten snake spirits . . . A daughter of Kakshīvant was his wife, held by him in high honour, Bhadrā by name, peerless on earth for her beauty. And the two loved one another. So it is told. Wholly overcome through his love for her, he was taken by consumption. In a short while as the result of this he went to his home like the sun. When this ruler of men was dead, his deeply saddened, childless wife broke out in a moaning (so we have heard), Bhadrā, she that was tortured by bitterest sorrow (Hear this, O high herdsman of men) : ‘ Any wife