Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c19.11

v2.c19.11

Duryodhana goes off hunting and cattle-branding with his brothers and friends ; it is a glorious journey through the forest and country ; thousands of women go with them, as also townsmen with their wives (iii, 239 f.). So also King Sumitra and Pāṇḍu both take their wives when they go hunting (xii, 126.9 ; i, 114). We have already spoken of the picnics in the open air, and the lively share taken in them by the women-folk. A festival often mentioned is that already spoken of, the festival of Indra's banner (Indradhvaja). We have heard, too, of the festival in honour of the mountain Raivataka. It is splendidly bedecked for this, and food is brought out in plenty. "Palaces" are built there, and "wishing-trees" (kalpavṛksha) planted. Music rings out, songs resound, there is dancing, the *jeunesse dorée* drives about in chariots gleaming with gold, there are swarms of townsmen and their wives, and the princely personages show themselves with harems of thousands, and sumptuous trains of music ; Kṛiṣhṇa's elder brother here too sets his usual example, copied by very many, and reels about drunk (i, 218.9 ; 219).