O thou of taper 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
lair looks, it behoveth thee to raise offspring, at my command, through
some Brahmana possessed of high ascetic merit.
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