Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c19.45

v2.c19.45

‘What can I do now to preserve my teacher’s wife? For this ruler of the deathless ones is rich in magical lore, and it is hard to lay hold of the skilful one. The chastiser of Pāka cannot be kept away by shutting up the hermitage or the leaf hut; for his power of making many changes is too great. Even in the shape of the wind Çakra might sully my teacher’s wife. Therefore I will go into this Ruci, and now stay in her. As a man,³ however, I cannot preserve her. For one hears that the holy chastiser of Pāka has many shapes. I will protect her through the power of yoga from him. I will make my way into her, limb by limb,⁴ to keep her. If my teacher now comes back to find his wife something left over from what has been enjoyed (ucchisthā), the great penitent with the godlike knowledge will undoubtedly curse me in his wrath. . . But if I were to be successful (in keeping her really pure) then I should have performed a miracle. Through yoga the penetrating into the body of my teacher’s wife is possible. Thus will I abide in her with a collected and heedful mind, not clinging like a shifting drop of water on the lotus leaf. For me who am free of the cast of passion that will be no sin.