Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c21.41

v2.c21.41

P. 168, n. 1. Dārāmç ca kuru dharmaṇa of course only means: Take thyself a wife, as the holy law bids. There is probably no suggestion of a marriage with Vicitravīrya’s widows. Satyavatī makes two requests of him: (1) Raise up offspring for thy brother; (2) Found a household, and have thyself consecrated king (for a king must come to the land). Probably it is a case of either the first or the second of these. For instead of caiva in 103.11 a better reading probably would be vaiva; c and v indeed are always being confused. Nil., it must be said, even takes caiva = eva vā. But his caiva, too, is probably a mistake in copying. Bhīṣma answers: “I have taken an oath not to have offspring, and that I keep to.” Now she throws herself with all her strength onto the first part only of her words (i, 103, 21 f.). She wished probably to tell herself that the sons begotten in Niyoga were held to be not Bhīṣma’s but Vicitravīrya’s children. Bhīṣma takes his oath literally: That also will not do; but I recommend thee a better substitute: a Brahman. Satyavatī then seems to have become reconciled with his strait view also (105.34-35).—The Khaças are according to MBh., i, 175.37 ff. Mlecchas, just as the Kirātas, Çabaras, etc.