Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c18.11

v2.c18.11

Cp. further my note in Daçakum., p. 41, and Bhavabhūti's dictum, parallels for which are to be found elsewhere: "Excellence it is that yields the reason for respect in the case of the excellent, and not either sex or age" (Uttararāmac., iv, 11). The thought: "Woman is the word, man the meaning" is directly uttered in the wedding ritual (see Winternitz, pp. 51-52. Cp. Viṣṇupur., Bd. iii, p. 118). Particularly skilful and deep play is made with this thought in MBh., xiv, 21.13-26. Cp., too, Tennyson: "Till at the last she set herself to man Like perfect music unto noble words" ("The Princess," vii, towards the end). In short various currents, various social classes, various places and times are spoken of in the Epic. No universally valid picture can be given from it.