[CHAPTER CVI.]
Marriage of Chúdálá with Sikhidhwaja.
Argument.—The Gandharva form of marriage, its Courtship and ceremonial rites.
VASISHTHA resumed:—After the lapse of some days in this manner, Chúdálá thus bespoke to her husband, in her guise of the pretended Bráhman boy (or Kumbha).
2. Hear me, O lotus eyed prince, she said, what I tell you in good earnest; that since I am obliged to become a woman every night, and continue to be so for ever more.
3. I wish to fulfill the part of my womanhood, by joining myself to a husband by legal marriage for all that time.
4. I want to taste the pleasure of conjugal union, with a dear friend, who is of his own accord so very friendly to me, and without any endeavour on my part: so I hope you will interpose no difficulty in my way.
5. So I choose you sir, as my husband, of all others in the three worlds: therefore be pleased to accept me for your wife every night.
6. The delightsome pleasure of conjugal union, has come down to us ever since the commencement of creation; and therefore our obedience to the ordinance of nature, can entail no guilt on our part.
7. I desire this that we may do as we like, without desiring or disliking anything; and be far from expecting the consequence of what we like or dislike.