SECTION CXXII
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed by his
loving wife, king Pandu, well-acquainted with all rules of morality, replied in
these words of virtuous import, 'O Kunti, what thou hast said is quite true.
Vyushitaswa of old did even as thou hast said. Indeed he was equal unto the
celestials themselves. But I shall now tell thee about the practices of old
indicated by illustrious Rishis, fully acquainted with every rule of morality.
O thou of handsome face and sweet smiles, women formerly were not immured
within houses and dependent on husbands and other relatives. They used to go about
freely, enjoying themselves as best as they liked. O thou of excellent
qualities, they did not then adhere to their husbands faithfully, and yet, O
handsome one, they were not regarded sinful, for that was the sanctioned usage
of the times. That very usage is followed to this day by birds and beasts
without any (exhibition of) jealousy. That practice, sanctioned by precedent,
is applauded by great Rishis. O thou of taper thighs, the practice is yet
regarded with respect amongst the Northern Kurus. Indeed, that usage, so
lenient to women, hath the sanction of antiquity. The present practice, however
(of women's being confined to one husband for life) hath been established but
lately. I shall tell thee in detail who established it and why.
"It hath been heard by us that there was a
great Rishi of the name of Uddalaka, who had a son named Swetaketu who also was
an ascetic of merit. O thou of eyes like lotus-petals, the present virtuous
practice hath been established by that Swetaketu from anger. Hear thou the
reason. One day, in the presence of Swetaketu's father a Brahmana came and
catching Swetaketu's mother by the hand, told her, 'Let us go.' Beholding his
mother seized by the hand and taken away apparently by force, the son was
greatly moved by wrath. Seeing his son indignant, Uddalaka addressed him and
said, 'Be not angry. O son! This is the practice sanctioned by antiquity. The
women of all orders in this world are free, O son; men in this matter, as
regards their respective orders, act as kine.' The Rishi's son, Swetaketu,
however, disapproved of the usage and established in the world the present
practice as regards men and women. It hath been heard by us, O thou of great
virtue, that the existing practice dates from that period among human beings
but not among beings of other classes. Accordingly, since the establishment of
the present usage, it is sinful for women not to adhere to their husbands.
Women transgressing the limits assigned by the Rishi became guilty of slaying
the embryo. And, men, too, viol ting a chaste and loving wife who hath from her
maidenhood observed the vow of purity, became guilty of the same sin. The woman
also who, being commanded by her husband to raise offspring, refuses to do his
bidding, becometh equally sinful.
"Thus, O timid one, was the existing usage
established of old by Swetaketu, the son of Uddalaka, in defiance of antiquity.
O thou of taper thighs, it hath also been heard by us that Madayanti, the wife
of Saudasa, commanded by her husband to raise offspring went unto Rishi
Vasishtha. And ongoing in unto him, the handsome Madayanti obtained a son named
Asmaka. She did this, moved by the desire of doing good to her husband. O thou
of lotus-eyes, thou knowest, O timid girl, how we ourselves, for the
perpetuation of the Kuru race, were begotten by Krishna-Dwaipayana. O faultless
one, beholding all these precedents it behoveth thee to do my bidding, which is
not inconsistent with virtue, O princess, who is devoted to her husband, it
hath also been said by those acquainted with the rules of morality that a wife,
when her monthly season cometh, must ever seek her husband, though at other
times she deserveth liberty. The wise have declared this to be the ancient
practice. But, be the act sinful or sinless, those acquainted with the Vedas
have declared that it is the duty of wives to do what their husbands bid them
do. Especially, O thou of faultless features, I, who am deprived of the power
of procreation, having yet become desirous of beholding offspring, deserve the
more to be obeyed by thee. O amiable one, joining my palms furnished with rosy
fingers, and making of them a cup as of lotus leaves, I place them on my head
to propitiate thee. O thou of lair looks, it behoveth thee to raise offspring,
at my command, through some Brahmana possessed of high ascetic merit. For then,
owing to thee, O thou of fair hips, I may go the way that is reserved for those
that are blessed with children.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed by
Pandu, that subjugator of hostile cities, the handsome Kunti, ever attentive to
what was agreeable and beneficial to her lord, then replied unto him, saying,
'In my girlhood, O lord, I was in my father's house engaged in attending upon
all guests. I used to wait respectfully upon Brahmanas of rigid vows and great
ascetic merit. One day I gratified with my attentions that Brahmana whom people
call Durvasa, of mind under full control and possessing knowledge of all the
mysteries of religion. Pleased with my services, that Brahmana gave me a boon in
the form of a mantra (formula of invocation) for calling into my presence any
one of the celestials I liked. And the Rishi, addressing me, said, 'Anyone
among the celestials whom thou callest by this shall, O girl, approach thee and
be obedient to thy will, whether he liketh it or not. And, O princess, thou
shall also have offspring through his grace.' O Bharata, that Brahmana told me
this when I lived in my father's house. The words uttered by the Brahmana can
never be false. The time also hath come when they may yield fruit. Commanded by
thee, O royal sage, I can by that mantra summon any of the celestials, so that
we may have good children. O foremost of all truthful men, tell me which of the
celestials I shall summon. Know that, as regards this matter, I await your
commands.'
"Hearing this, Pandu replied, 'O handsome
one, strive duly this very day to gratify our wishes. Fortunate one, summon
thou the god of justice. He is the most virtuous of the celestials. The god of
justice and virtue will never be able to pollute us with sin. The world also, O
beautiful princess, will then think that what we do can never be unholy. The
son also that we shall obtain from him shall in virtue be certainly the
foremost among the Kurus. Begotten by the god of justice and morality, he would
never set his heart upon anything that is sinful or unholy. Therefore, O thou
of sweet smiles, steadily keeping virtue before thy eyes, and duly observing
holy vows, summon thou the god of justice and virtue by the help of thy solicitations
and incantations.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Kunti, that
best of women, thus addressed by her lord, said, 'So be it.' And bowing down to
him and reverently circumambulating his person, she resolved to do his
bidding.'"
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