The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 122

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 to 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 as best liked them. 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. And, O thou of tapering thighs, the practice is yet regarded with respect amongst the northern Kurus. Indeed, this usage so lenient to women hath the sanction of antiquity. The present practice, however, (of women being confined to one husband for life) hath been established but lately. I shall tell thee in detail who established it and for what. "'It hath been heard by us that there was a great Rishi of name Uddalaka. He had a son of name Shetaketu who also was an ascetic of merit. O thou of eyes like lotus leaves, the present virtuous practice hath been established by that Shetaketu from anger. Hear thou the reason. One day, in the presence of Shetaketu's father, a Brahmana came and catching Shetaketu'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, moved by wrath, became very indignant. 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 Shetaketu, however, disapproved of the usage and established in the world the present usage 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 become guilty of slaying the embryo. And men too violating a chaste and loving wife who hath from her maidenhood observed the vow of purity become guilty of the same sin. The woman also who, being commanded by her husband to raise up offspring refuses to do his bidding, becometh equally sinful. "'Thus, O timid one, was the existing usage established of old by Shetaketu 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 up offspring, went unto the Rishi Vashishta. And going 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 eyes like lotus leaves, thou knowest, timid girl, how we ourselves, for the perpetuation of the Kuru race, were begotten by Krishna-Dwaipayana. O thou faultless one, beholding all these precedents, it behoveth thee to do my bidding, which is not inconsistent with virtue. O princess devoted to thy husband, it hath also been said by those acquainted with the rules of virtue that a wife when her 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 hands 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 locks, it behoveth thee to raise up offspring, at my command, by the instrumentality of some Brahmana possessed of high asectic 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 home 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, Brahraana 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 to my presence any one of the celestials I liked. And the Rishi addressing me said,—Any one 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 shalt also have offspring, by his grace.—O Bharata, that Brahmana told me this when I was in my father's home. The words uttered by the Brahmana could 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 thou 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 thou handsome one, strive thou 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." Thus ends the hundred and twenty second Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.