________________
SUNANDA Y SHASTRI
SAMBODHI
102
again, while the first wife is there alive, hale and hearty Another very important thing is, man has to take an oath at the time of marriage ntual that, 'he would never transgress his wife's privileges in the matters of religion and duties, financial matters and worldly pleasures30 Still, the instances of polygamy are found For instance, King Dasaratha had three wives Famous philosopher Yājñavalkya had two wives--Maitreyi and Kätyāyani Lord Krsna also had many wives Probably wealthy people and kings might be exceptional cases, but it definitely was not a rule, nor was the practice of polygamy encouraged There are not many instances regarding polyandry There is neither any rule, nor the custom Draupadi's episode is there in the Mahābhārata more as an exception than a rule Even at that time it raised a lot of controversy Except in few uncivilized tubes, polyandry did not exist at all in the cultured sections of the Indian society at all times (6) Divorce and Separation Peculiarity of the rule of divorce lies in the prohibition to lodge the complaint, ie husband and wife must not lodge complaints against each other? It is considered a sin, if husband and wife leave each other through mutual dislike32 In a case, where wife commits adultery, then it is not an offence on the husband's part, if he leaves her. He can drive her out of house, or treat her like a slave and her head is shaven 34 There are also punishments for men which are prescnbed for the higher degree criminals35 A man can abandon his wife if she is wasting husband's property on pretext that it is her 'Strīdhana', or when she is procuring abortions, or when she is barren, or when she hates her husband, or when she attempts to kill her husband36 It is advised that a woman who always shows malice towards her husband, or who always quarrels, or who gives birth to female progency, or who drinks spirituous liquor, or who is suffering from disease should be abandoned $8 It is obvious that it was a male dominant society where interests of men came before lives of women
Regarding women, divorce is allowed to a girl who is faultless, but is unknowingly married to a man having some blemish or fault Then, she can approach the royal court and get her marriage dissolved Her relatives should restore her to a better suitor39 This procedure is more like a nullification of
