The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c16.81.3

v2.c16.81.3

Even if it be supposed that the attack is on a single woman, still it is evident that the attempt is not upon a helpless person utterly unable to defend herself. She is evidently of a martial character, and does not yield herself up until after a good fight and with a sword and a shield, in course of which she is worsted and disarmed. This would imply a Kṣatrīya woman, a princess, who ordinarily went forth armed, much in the same way as Marhatta and Rajput women of quality generally did till the beginning of this century, and still occasionally do in some places. If the lady be the same who first appears with her husband, the question may be asked what became of the husband immediately after the abduction? But his wounded appearance in the opening scene does not warrant any expectation of his taking an active part in the rescue. If he did attempt anything, he must have been so wounded in the first onslaught as to be placed *hors de combat*. The theory that the fight is between some men and women, would raise no such question. The day of the abduction was probably that of the encounter with the elephants in the cave, at which, according to the first theory, the husband was wounded, and after which the husband and wife had retired to an adjoining cave to take rest, away from their followers.