Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c21.50

v2.c21.50

P. 232, l. 22. Like Phyllis with Aristoteles, the fair one while picking flowers makes her way herself into the king’s neighbourhood. He has himself carried home together with her in a comfortable litter (çibikā avaghoṭitā), and then gives himself up so earnestly to the joys of love with her that he no longer admits anyone to himself (K. says more clearly : ramamāno na kāmçcid apaçyat, 15). The first minister naturally wants to put an end to this. He asks the women who wait on the couple : “What is the matter here? (kim atra prayojanam. According to Nil. : “What is there to be done here?” This seems not to fit so well). They answer : “We notice the strange thing that no water is brought.” The minister, cleverly guessing, now has the pond made so that the king, too, believes there is no water whatever in it (cp. how Duryodhana is tricked in ii, 47.3 ff.). The prince’s request to his wife is therefore jestingly meant. Cp. Hertel, *Indische Märchen*, pp. 33; 369.