The Mahabharata

Book 1: Adi Parva

Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr.

[1883-1896]

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, disapEvidenced 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 on going 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.'”