Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c20.13

Language: English

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Women for the temporary use of the guest, or as a definitive gift to him, have been already alluded to (allusion to Kṛishṇa in v, 85.13, 14; 86.8). Yudhishṭhira keeps hundreds of thousands of young girls (dāsī), wearing shell bracelets and most splendid ornaments, sprinkled with sandal, skilled in the sixty-four arts, and in dancing and singing songs, that they may hospitably wait on the Brahmans (snātaka), ministers, and kings, and he then stakes this valuable property at the game (ii, 61.8 ff.). To give fitting pleasure to the newcomer, even with a man’s own daughter or wife, is, as is well known, a thing that is demanded by good manners, and therefore by morality, in very many places in the world.² But beyond any doubt this “virtue” has nowhere found a greater glorification than in the Mahābh. For here we find the following tale of the man that overcame death (xiii, 2.34 ff.). Agni who as a Brahman sought the hand of Sudarçanā, the king’s daughter, and was given her after some difficulties, had by her a splendid son, Sudarçana, who in very childhood “took for his own the whole of the most high and everlasting word of God”. Now there was a prince, by name Oghavant, the grandfather of Nṛiga. He had a girl Oghavatī and a son Ogharatha. This daughter Oghavatī, her with the godlike stature, Oghavant gave of his own will to this wise Sudarçana to wife. In union with this Oghavatī Sudarçana dwelt in Kurukshetra, devoting himself gladly to a life as father of the house.

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‘As father of the house I will overcome Death,’¹ this vow was undertaken by him so rich in insight, him that blazed with flames. To Oghavatī spoke the son of fire : ‘Unto a guest thou must nowise do anything that might displease him. Whatever it be whereby a guest would be gladdened, be it even the giving of thyself—thou must never harbour hesitation or scruple. This pious rule (vrata) is ever astir in my heart. For him that dwells in the house, O thou of the lovely hips, there is nothing higher than the guest. If my word is to thee as a guiding thread, thou of the lovely thighs, thou shining one, then do thou keep this speech of mine ever fast in thine heart with mind firm-set. Whether I happen to have gone away, or to be here, O sweet one, O blameless one, thou must not disregard the guest, if I have to decide for thee.’ To him spoke Oghavatī, her hands folded humbly on her forehead : ‘For me there is nought that I would not do without question at thy bidding.’ But since Death now wished to overcome Sudarçana in his house, he, ever following, went after him into it, and sought a bare spot on him.

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When the son of fire had now gone out to fetch firewood, there spoke as a guest to Oghavatī a glorious Brahman : ‘I would have thee, O thou of the lovely face, show me hospitality to-day, if indeed the law laid down for the estate of father of the house is unto thee a guiding rule.’ Thus addressed by the Brahman, the glorious daughter of the king welcomed him according to the precept made known in the Veda. When Oghavatī had given him a seat and water for the feet, she spoke to the Brahman : ‘What is thy business? What shall I give thee?’ To the lovely daughter of the king then spoke the Brahman : ‘It is with thee I have business, O lovely one. Do thou carry it out without hesitation or thought. If unto thee the law laid down for the estate of father of the house is a rule of conduct, then show me an act of love, O princess, by giving thyself to me.’ The royal maiden offered him anything else he might wish, but the Brahman wanted nothing of her but that she should give herself. The princess, however, bethought herself from the very first of the words of her husband, and filled with shame said ‘Yes’ to the Brahman bull. Then laughed the Brahman Rishi, and he and she sat themselves down,¹ she remembering her husband’s bidding, who as he strove was ever mindful of his headship of the household. Then the son of fire came there with the firewood, on whom followed always, as on a kinsman, Death in dreadful shape.

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When he begotten by the fire god had come into the hermitage he called out repeatedly to Oghavatī: ‘Whither art thou gone?’ But she made no answer, because she had been touched by the Brahman with his hands, and was a faithful wife. She thought to herself: ‘I am only what another man has left over,’ and was ashamed before her husband; the good woman kept silent, and spoke no word in answer. Then spoke Sudarçana again to her²: ‘Where is the good one? Where has she gone? What is there dearer to me than she? Why does she not come to meet me smiling to-day as before, the faithful wife, the truthful one, ever joyfully given to perfect honesty?’ But the Brahman in the hut made answer to Sudarçana: ‘Know, O son of fire, that I am come as a guest, and am a Brahman. This wife of thine, O best one, offered me every kind of honour for guests, but I wished for her for myself. In this wise did the lovely-faced one come to me. Whatever else is fitting here, do thou do it.’ But Death followed him, with an iron pick in his hand, and thought: ‘If he is untrue now to his pledge, I shall slay him.’ But Sudarçana, who in thought, deed, eye, and speech had put aside jealousy, had put aside anger, smilingly spoke these words: