Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c17.28

v2.c17.28

The Indian paragon of a woman, whose features have often emerged in the course of our treatment, is summed up also in Mahābh., xiii, 123 : “ To the all-knowing, wise Ṣāṇḍilī, fathoming all truth, the Kaikeyī, Sumanā by name, put this question in the heaven of the gods : ‘ Through what way of life and through what actions hast thou shaken off all sin, and come into the heaven of the gods ? Thou shinest in thine own brightness like a tongue of fire, like the daughter of the ruler of the stars, her whose footprints have left brightness in the sky. Clad in dustless garments, free from weariness, standing in a heavenly chariot, thou shinest, glorious a thousandfold in power. It is not through moderate asceticism, open-handedness, or piety that thou art come into this world. Say unto me the truth.’ Thus put to the question by Sumanā, the sweet-smiling Ṣaṇḍilī calmly spoke these friendly words to her : ‘Not because I had been wrapped in the yellow-red garment, nor because I had worn bast garb, nor because I had walked with bald head, nor because I had had penitent’s tresses did I come unto an existence of the gods. Never did I speak evil and rough words to my husband, nor forgot my duty to him. I was ever watchful and eager in the worship of the gods, the forefathers, and the Brahmans, and treated my mother-in-law and father-in-law well. I uttered not calumny against others, nor did it come into my soul; I stood not where there was no door, nor told long tales.¹ I gave myself up in no wise to unkind laughter of any kind, nor to hurtfulness in deeds, whether secretly or openly. If my husband had been out on business, and now came back home, I put a seat for him, and waited on him attentively. If he did not approve of some food, or did not like a dish, whether it was something to eat or to drink, then I avoided all such. If in the house-