Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c18.75

v2.c18.75

When then at long last the kingdom is in Yudhishṭhira's hands, he begins a long lament, is tortured by remorse, and wants to go off into the penitential forest. Draupadī then shows him that by this he is doing ill by his brothers, who have shared all pains with him, and should now have their reward. “ He that hath lost his manhood cannot rule the earth, he cannot enjoy riches, in his house the sons can as little dwell, as fishes in the mud. Without punishment inflicted no king is possible. To bear love towards all beings, to make gifts, to study, to practise asceticism—this is the virtue of the Brahman, not of the ruler. To hinder the wicked, to help the good, and not to flee in the fight—this is the highest virtue of the ruler. Through thy blindness the fight now has been for nought. If the oldest and highest is crazy (unmatta), then all that follow him are crazy too. Were thy brothers not crazy, then they would put thee and the wrong thinkers in prison, and rule the earth themselves. He that thus goes astray should be treated with fumigations, salves, sneezing remedies, and medicines by a physician.¹ I am most contemptible among all women in the world, I who even so, robbed of my sons,² still wish to live. If they were still alive and doing, then I should not now be uttering my words to the winds. But thou art leaving the whole earth to itself, and thyself rushing into unhappiness ” (xii, 14).³