A wretch that I am, some loving couple had doubtless been separated by me in a former life, for which, in this life, I am made to suffer the pangs of separation from thee.  O king, that wretched woman who liveth even for a moment separated from her lord, liveth in woe and suffereth the pangs of hell even here.  Some loving couple had doubtless been separated by me in a former life, for which sinful act I am suffering this torture arising from my separation from thee.  O king, from this day I will lay myself down on a bed of Kusa grass and abstain from every luxury, hoping to behold thee once more.  O tiger among men, show thyself to me.  O king, O lord, command once more thy wretched and bitterly weeping wife plunged in woe.’

“Kunti continued, ’It was thus, O Pandu, that the beautiful Bhadra wept over the death of her lord.  And the weeping Bhadra clasped in her arms the corpse in anguish of heart.  Then she was addressed by an incorporeal voice in these words, “Rise up, O Bhadra, and leave this place.  O thou of sweet smiles, I grant thee this boon.  I will beget offspring upon thee.  Lie thou down with me on thy own bed, after the catamenial bath, on the night of the eighth or the fourteenth day of the moon.’  Thus addressed by the incorporeal voice, the chaste Bhadra did, as she was directed, for obtaining offspring.  And, O bull of the Bharatas, the corpse of her husband begat upon her seven children viz., three Salwas and four Madras.  O bull of the Bharatas, do thou also beget offspring upon me, like the illustrious Vyushitaswa, by the exercise of that ascetic power which thou possessest.’”

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.