Mbh 1.199.7b

Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

Sankara, the chief of the gods, gratified with her, gave her the boon she asked, saying, ‘Thou shall have, amiable maiden, five husbands.’ The maiden, who had succeeded in gratifying the god, said again, ‘O Sankara, I desire to have from thee only one husband possessed of every virtue?’ The god of gods, well-pleased with her, spake again, saying, ‘Thou hast, O maiden, addressed me five full times, repeating, ‘Give me a husband.’ Therefore, O amiable one, it shall even be as thou hast asked. Blessed be thou. All this, however, will happen in a future life of thine!’

Mbh 1.199.7b · Mahabharata · ADI PARVA

Themes in this passage

Marriage The Divine Charity Desire Dharma

Marriage in other traditions

The same theme, as Christianity, Islam and Hellenism address it.

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

1 Corinthians 7:3 · Bible · 1 Corinthians

Allah citeth an example for those who disbelieve: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot, who were under two of Our righteous slaves yet betrayed them so that they (the husbands) availed them naught against Allah and it was said (unto them): Enter the Fire along with those who enter.

Quran 66:10 · Quran · The Prohibition

“Then I saw Alcmena, the wife of Amphitryon, who also bore to Jove indomitable Hercules; and Megara who was daughter to great King Creon, and married the redoubtable son of Amphitryon.

Odyssey 11.22 · Odyssey · 11

Helen, after the death of Paris, married Deiphobus his brother, and at the taking of Troy betrayed him, in order to reconcile herself to Menelaus her first husband, who received her again into favour.

Iliad 24.79 · Iliad · 24

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