Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c21.2

v2.c21.2

P. 11, n. 1. Since the maiden, particularly the virgin (kumārī), is a lucky object, she is also called in for divining by dice, but not as the "substitute of the faithful wife", as Lüders holds ("Das Würfelspiel im alten Indien," *Abhandlungen d. königl. Gesellsch. d. Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, phil.-hist.* Klasse, Bd. ix, p. 9). He is mistaken also when in the same place he believes that Nala is determined to play, because Damayantī is looking on, and thus by her presence ensures him success. It is rather in the first place the inciting presence of woman, especially the beloved one. See p. 534. But it is to be noted that the magical help of the wife, especially the chaste wife, has a powerful influence on the man's luck. Cp. Meyer, *Isoldes Gottesurteil*, note 104; Elsie Clews Parsons, *The Old-Fashioned Woman*, 1913, p. 61 ff.