Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c18.45

v2.c18.45

Loud cries for help and rescue Yājñasenī : “ Come, Kṛṣṇa ! Jiṣṇu ! Come, O Hari ! Nara !” Then said he to her, in a wild grip Holding dark Kṛṣṇā by her dark hair : “ For me be thou unwell always, Yājñasenī ! For me thou mayst have one garment on or none ! Thou hast been won in play, thou art become a slave ; To the slave a garment is given as one likes.” With loosened hair her clothing half slipped down, Shaken wildly to and fro by Duḥśāsana, Filled with shame, glowing with hot rage, Then low to him Kṛṣṇā these words did speak : “ Those in the hall are masters of the doctrine, Rich in works, and all like unto Indra. They abide in honour and worship, all to me Are worthy of honour ; so before them can I not come. Unutterably base man of varlet ways, Take not my garb away, drag me no more !¹ The king’s sons will make thee pay for it,² Even though the gods with Indra, too, were to help thee. To the law clings the noble son of the law.³ The law is subtle and hard to know ; I would not that even through the word a whit of blame Or lack of virtue should on my husband fall. Yet this is evil, that thou in my sickness Doṣt drag me into the midṣt of the Kuru heroes, And none here raises one word of blame ; They all muṣt be of thy mind. Oh, shame ! Gone is the law and cuṣtom of the Bhāratas, Gone are the ways of those learned in the lore of warriors ; The Kurus all with calmness in the hall see The bounds overstepped of Kuru law. Ah ! Droṇa, Bhīṣma, these have no character, Nor even Vidura, the high-minded one ; So here the oldest and first among the Kurus Heed not the king’s dread wrong.”