Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c19.19

v2.c19.19

And there was very much else also to see. So (according to ii, 23) there took place a mighty wrestling and boxing match between Bhīma and King Jarāsandha, and the women came thither, too, to delight their eyes and hearts at it (çl. 22). The ladies cannot have been over-delicate, for when we read of the hellish din which the warlike music of the Epic makes with its many instruments, to say nothing of the noise of the fight and the horrors of such exhibitions, we cannot but wholeheartedly wonder at the nerves of the weaker sex, that comes here with the crowd to the men's contest. The women take a great delight in heroes and heroic deeds. Whenever Arjuna shows himself in his panoply, the daughters of Brahmans and Kshattriyas, and Vaiçya maidens run up from their play to gaze on him—just as it is with us (v, 30.8). King Virāṭa makes the strong Bhīma give real gladiatorial displays before the beauties of his harem : boxing displays, trying his strength with wild lions, tigers, buffaloes, bears, and slaughtering them before the eyes of the ladies (iv, 8.10 ; 13.4 ; 19.5, 6 ; 71.5). They are also, it is true, entertained with milder arts. Eunuchs are appointed in the women's apartments to delight the women and the prince himself with tales and the rest. So Arjuna disguises himself as a eunuch, and enters into the service of King Virāṭa. He is skilled in singing, all kinds of dances, and the various musical instruments, and has other accomplishments. By the ruler's orders he is examined by women as to his sex, and declared to belong to the third—how that can be is left, indeed, in the dark—and then taken into the girls' dwelling, where he instructs the young princess and her girl friends in dancing, singing, and music (iv, 2.25 ff. 11.8 ff. ; and often in what follows after ; cp. vii, 64.11).¹