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SOCIAL CONDITIONS
361
wife of a Vipra could not meet her paramour at the appointed place, but unfortunately the brother of that Vipra was killed, who happened to go to that place (82-47). Śrīdāmā, the queen of Kulankara become successful in establishing illicit connection with a Purohita and for that she become merciless to the extent of causing the murder of her husband (82.37). Queen Kiranamandala, though warned by her husband, did not prevent herself from meeting her paramour again. And for that she was exiled by her husband (101.60). The wife of an envoy caused the death of her husband at the hands of a Vipra who was her paramour. Further she did not hesitate in hatching a plot to get her sons murdered, but the plot was unearthed and the Vipra was killed by her sons (39.42). The wife of a Gșhapati got her husband tied to a tree in the forest at the hands of her Vipra paramour and freely enjoyed with the latter (48.65). In addition to these instances of women who belonged to different strata of the society, there is an allegorical reference to a corrupt woman (padutthamahilā 15.66) who would freely move from house to house. There is a further mention of a harlot (svairiņi 5 105) who became the cause of enmity between two friends.
These evidences support the disparaging remarks made about the character of woman by the author through the mouths? of Rāvana and Rāma.2 But the statements are circumstantial. Rāvaņa invites calamity by his own misconduct. His brother and sons get captured by the enemy, his mission fails in sending back Rāma without Sitā and Sitā also does not like to become his wife. Thus the only course left open to him was that of the war. At such a time Rāvana gets desperate and blames the woman-kind. It was on account of his being motivated by the sexual urge that Rāvana did the ignoble deed of kidnapping Sitā and for that Rāvana is further found to be blaming himself and confessing his guilt (69.32-33). Thus Rāvana being compelled by the situation made such derogatory remarks about women otherwise Sítā was so chaste that she upheld the glorious position of women. Rāma accepts Sita after killing Rāvana. He is not suspicious of her virtue.
1. Narayassa mahāvihi, kadhinā saggaggalā aņayabhūmi, Sariyā vva
kudilahiyayā, vajjeyavvā havai nāri-69.34. Si Padhamaditthasanti amaena va majjha phusai arigāim, Sā paramasattacittā, ucciyanijjā iham jāyā 69.35. Ahavā ko juvainan, jāņai cariyam sahāvakudilānan, Dosāņa āgāro cciya, jāņa sarire vasai kāmo. 93-35. Mulam duccariyānan, havai ya narayassa
vattaņi viula, mokkhassa mahāviggham, vaijeyavvā sayā näri-93.36. 3. Niyayakulam uttamam kaya maliņam...vammahaaniyattacitteņam 69.32.
Dhiddhi aho akajjan...ihäniya mayanamüdhenam--69.33.
