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344
TILAKAMANJARI OF DHANAPĀLA
marriage and the relation between husband and wife is fully stated in three chapters of Arthaśāstra of Kautilya.' "All transactions begin with marriage,” says Kautilya.? Eight forms of marriage have been enunciated as in the Smrtis.
In light of these injunctions of the scriptures, Dhanapāla says - “It is the duty of the householders to protect their wives."
“The fiat of Cupid deserves to be adhered to and the establishment or traditions of the household have to be honoured” as illustrated by Meghavāhana with reference to Madirāvatī, along with -
“The cause for the ill-health of both of us given to observe all the vows undertaken and getting accumulated every day on account of respect and devotion for the gods and the elders or manes, having by our sides all the time the group of kinsfolk, rendered accomplished by the effluence of riches, is nothing beyond the torment caused by issuelessness. That, by illluck, has become extremely unbearable.”
illustrates the point enunciated by Kautilya that women are wooed for the sake of progeny or wives are (necessary) for having sons. The king failing to get a son through Madirāvati and any other of his wives, becomes disgusted with the circumstances and finds it very difficult to adjust himself with his queen even when gone to bed with her every night. He is superstitious enough to believe in the law of Providence and loves to go to the forests to propitiate some deity at the call of the royal bard. He does not forsake his queen in order to give a place to another. Rather in his polygamous harem there is no cause for him to desert one and marry a second. He has failed to get a son from any of his queens out of which he prefers Madirāvati and goes to propitiate Śrī ultimately to get a boon from her at the command of the Vidyadhara sage. Years have elapsed eight, ten or even more i.e. twelve etc. and yet he has failed to get a son out of any. He cannot therefore, abide by the law of Kautilya (III 2.38-41) which enjoins divorce and compensations if a wife remains barren or bears no son or bears daughters alone throughout this period or bears still born children (nindu) "3fathast Fearch TTHHİ
H afet: ""
1. KAŚ III 2-4 and the Kauţiliyam Arthaśāstram Part III p. 151. 2. faglegat 26R: KAŚ Part. III. 2. 1. p. 98, Part II p. 227. 3. FAGRYRYCH TEN : TM Sm. ed. p. 318. 4. HH12 42727311 PERFET TE Tefefa: TM Vol. I p. 94. 5. Eef: fe fa: KAŚ III 2. 42 part I p. 100, part II p. 230. 6. TM Vol. III p. 9.
