(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 tapering
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,
violating 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
tapering 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 fair 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.'"