Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c19.99.2

v2.c19.99.2

Ever since the five elements have been, and the worlds have been made by the Maker, ever since men and women were made,—ever since then these faults have been in women, O Nārada.” Yudhishṭhira spoke: “Men here in the world cling ever to women, ridden by a frenzied delusion brought about by the gods, and women in the same way to men; that lies before our eyes, and the world is a witness to it. And now a torturing uncertainty goes through my heart. Whence is it that men have the inclination towards them, and under what conditions¹ do women take fire and grow cold again? And how can the fair under these circumstances be watched over by a man? Tell me, pray, of this. For while they are themselves going to love, they deceive men here, and no man gets free of them that has fallen into their hands. As cows fall on new grass, so they are ever doing to a new man. The arts of deception (māyā) that Çambara, the arts of deception that Namuci, that Bali and Kumbhīnasi wielded, these all women understand. They laugh with them that laugh, and weep with them that weep, and him that is unfriendly they catch with friendly speech, all through the hand of fate. Untruth they call truth, and so truth they call untruth. Mainly for the mind of woman, I think, were the political books of doctrine drawn up by Bṛhaspati and the other most excellent men.² If women are held in honour by men, their heart is false towards them, and if they are repulsed, their heart is false.