SUTTEE IN THE MAHABHAEATA 103 he felt for the younger of his wives, who was extremely beautiful, overcame all fear of death; and, in spite of the fact that for several days she continued to represent to him the dire results that must necessarily follow his incontinency, he yielded at last to the violence of his love; and immediately the curse fell upon him. After his death, it was necessary to decide which of Ms two wives should follow him to the funeral pyre, and there arose a sharp altercation between them as to who should enjoy this honour. The elder of the two spoke first, and addressing the assembly of Brahmans who had gathered together for the purpose, she urged that the fact of her being the first wife placed her above the second. She should, therefore, be given the preference. Besides, she urged, her companion had children who were still young, and who required their mother's personal care and atten- tion for their bringing up. The second wife admitted the seniority of the first; but she maintained that she alone, having been the immediate cause of the sad death of their common hus- band in allowing him to defy the curse which doomed him to perish, was thereby entitled to the honour of being burned with him. " As regards the bringing up my children, " she added, addressing the other wife, " are they not yours just as much as they are mine? Do not they too call you mother? And by your age and experience are you not better fitted than I to at- tend to their bringing up? r Tn spite of the eloquence of the younger wife, it was,
