What She Asked For

A long time passed. Then one day Agastya saw Lopāmudrā after her bath, radiant with the power of her austerity. He was pleased with her service, her purity and her self-control, with her grace and her beauty, and he called her to lie with him.

She folded her hands, and a little shyly, but with love, she answered him. A husband takes a wife for the sake of children, she said, there is no doubt of that. But you should honour the love I have for you as well. In my father's palace I had a bed. Come to me on such a bed as that. I want you garlanded and adorned, and I want to come to you as I wish, adorned with heavenly ornaments myself.

Agastya said, Lopāmudrā, I have no riches like your father's.

You are master of everything by your austerity, she said. In a moment you could gather all the wealth there is in the world of the living.

It is as you say, said Agastya. But that would spend my austerity. Show me a way in which my austerity will not be lost.

Lopāmudrā spoke of her season, the time in which she could conceive a child. Little of my season is left, ascetic, she said. I do not want to come to you in any other way. And I do not want to destroy your dharma either. But do this for me, as I wish it.

If this is truly what your mind has settled on, my dear, said Agastya, then I will go. Stay here and do as you please.