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138
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(May, 1878.
What art is thine, which fame ensures, And full connubial bliss secures ? For I, too, seek to rule my lord : Thy methods tell; thy help afford."
These words when noble Krishna heard, She spake with grief and sorrow stirred :
worthy of remark that Satyabham& is represented in the passage before us as seeking to bring her husband, Krishna, under subjection by some of the philtres which she supposes Draupadi to have found effectual with the Pandavas, although Krishna was, either at the time when this section of the Mahabharata was composed, or somewhat later, regarded as an incarnation of Vishnu, or of Brahma (the supreme Spirit), and (unless his deification was a later event, or unless his higher was not supposed always to permeato his human nature), might have been supposed, by his divine omniscience, to be incapable of deception by the wiles of his wife. I may add that, at the time when the dialogue is related to have occurred, the Påndavas were living in the forests, in pursuance of an engagement to exile themselves from their kingdom for a certain period. (See Professor Monier.Williams' Indian Epic Poetry, pp. 23 and 103.) The passage before us may doubtless be held to prove that in ancient days the women of India were in the habit of employing philtres of various kinds to gain or keep their husbands' affections. In other respects, and irrespectively of the dutiful, though exaggerated, sentiments which the second speaker expresses, it may possess some interest as a picture of ancient Indian manners.]
Two ladies fair, of high estate, Long parted, now again had met. The one herself could justly pride On being noble Krishna's bride; The other ruled five princes' hearts With loving sway, by honest arts. Rejoiced each other now to see, They laughed and chatted, full of glee. In thought o'er all the past they ranged, And ancient memories interchanged. When this at length had found an end, The former thus addressed her friend :
Satyabhama. "How is it, dearest Krishna, say,
That thou thy husbands so canst sway, Those godlike princes, youthful, bold, Strong-limbed, and proud, and uncontrolled, - Who ever watch thy looks, to tind What thoughts are passing in thy mind, And ne'er against thy rule rebel? Reveal, I pray, thy potent spell. By what devices, what finesse, Canst thou their proud self-will repress, And make them all thy power confess P Where lies thy strength? What philtres rare Avail to gain thine end P declare. Do rites, oblations, prayers, conduce To work thy will, or lore abstruse ? Or is thy grand success the fruit Of any drug, or herb, or root P
Krishna (Draupadi). « Such questions vain befit not thee,
A dame esteemed so sage to be. For all but heartless wives eschew Those wicked arts thou hast in view. Could any female merit praise For acts so shameful, schemes so base P Whene'er a hapless husband knows His foolish wife is one of those Who ply their lords with drugs and charms, His soul is racked by dire alarms, As any one is ill at ease Who in his house a serpent sees. How can be lead a happy life Who lives in dread of such a wife? How many men whose wives thus sin,Who seek by drugs their lords to win,To fell diseases fall a prey, Grow dropsied, leprous, pine away In sad and premature decay!. Such madness could'st thou dare to share For thine own lord such ills prepare P No wife has e'er, by drugs or charms, Won back a husband to her arms.
Now, calmly hear how 'I proceed, Avoiding every tortuous deed. I seek to win my husbands' hearts By none bnt open, honest arts. And so their willing hearts I rule : I ne'er cajole them, or befool, Nor e'er on charms or drugs depend, Their independent wills to bend. From anger, pride, and passion free, I serve my lords most zealously. Without parade of fondness, still, Submissive, I their wish fulfil. By fitting gestures, gentle speech, And mien, and acts, my goal I reach. Those lords, whose glance alone could kill, I please with all my might and skill. Though they are never harsh or rude, But always kind, and mild, and good, I act as if constrained by awe, And treat their slightest hint as law. No other object draws my love, On earth beneath, or heaven above. No handsome, wealthy, jewelled youth, No god, could shake my plighted troth. For no delight or joy I care, Unless my lords the pleasure share.
