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## 248
Somasen Bhattaraka's work states that even external people who are not Jains condemn it, and a Jain Ṛṣi would never endorse it. It is well-known that in marriage rituals, only the marriage of a virgin is prescribed, not the marriage of a widow. In fact, widow marriage is condemned. In the 44th chapter of the Adi Purana, the son of the Chakravarti Bharat, Arkkirti Maharaj, expresses his disgust towards a widow in these words:
"I do not want Sulochana, because the life of this greedy Jayakumar is about to be extinguished by my arrows, so what use do I have for that widow Sulochana?"
The Padma Purana also prohibits widow marriage. When Kharadushan abducted Shurpankha and fled, King Ravana decided to fight him. At that time, Mandodari, the queen, said to King Ravana:
"Even if you somehow kill Kharadushan in battle, she is still tainted by the abduction of a virgin, and she is no longer fit to be given to another. Therefore, she will only be called a widow after Kharadushan's death."
The Maha Purana and the Padma Purana are both considered authoritative texts by Jains. Their authority is deeply ingrained in the very essence of Jainism. Therefore, it is clear from these two authoritative texts that widow marriage is a reprehensible act and goes against the scriptures. The author Somasen Maharaj's views are also in line with the scriptures. His conclusions are not swayed in the slightest towards widow marriage. The author has mentioned only two paths for a widow in the 13th chapter: one is to take Jain initiation and the other is to take the vow of widowhood. He has not mentioned a third path called widow marriage. Therefore, it is clear that the author's intention is not in favor of widow marriage. He considers widow marriage to be a reprehensible act, otherwise, he would have mentioned a third path called widow marriage along with the two mentioned paths. The interpretation of widow marriage from some verses in the 11th chapter is also incorrect, and we will clarify those verses as well. The point is that the author's intention cannot be interpreted as supporting widow marriage based on this verse or any other verses and passages.
## 115-119
On a flawless, unblemished plate, the father should place the child's head. He should write his own name and the child's birth name there.
## 120
He should place food in a vessel filled with milk and ghee. He should place fragrant flowers and kusha grass on the plate and the previous plate.
## 121
He should anoint the head, ears, neck, arms, and chest with ghee and milk, and decorate the child with ornaments.
## 122
The reading "Nistushana-akshata-tale" is correct.