Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c19.1

v2.c19.1

THUS the share taken in events by the woman of the Epic is very important, whether it is by urging on and arousing, the more usual case, or by appeasing, and seeking to reconciliate. Thus Dhanamjaya, when Dhṛtarāṣṭra wishes to question him alone on important matters, says that Vyāsa and Gāndhārī, the queen, must be there too, for “I should never care to say anything to thee in secret, for resentment might lay hold of thee. But those two can¹ persuade thee from resentment, O princess; for they are well versed in the law, ready, and quick at decision”. And so it is done (v, 67.6, 7). In v, 129.1 ff. all try in vain to induce Duryodhana to be reconciled to the Pāṇḍavas; he goes off in a rage, and Kṛṣṇa’s advice is to bind the stubborn man and his fellows. Then Gāndhārī is called; she orders Duryodhana to appear before her, and she harangues him violently—though fruitlessly in this case—as has already been mentioned. In v, 148.28-36 she uses the same angry and energetic words towards him, here, too, in a deliberative gathering of the great ones of the kingdom, where she has her seat and vote with the men. Cp. also ii, 75, where she even advises the harshest and not at all motherly measures to be taken with him. When Yudhishthira has won the kingdom in the bloody battles, he first satisfies politeness by “announcing” or offering it to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Gāndhārī, and Vidura (xii, 45.11). He waits, too, on Gāndhārī before any of the others, and on Dhṛtarāṣṭra only after her, when, being invited to Hāstinapura, he appears there (ii, 58.27 ff.).² See also iii, 9.1-3; 254.28, 34; v, 114.4 f.; vi, 49.8-12; 88.47; 89.6 ff.; xi, 11.1 ff.; xiv, 52.25 ff.