The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c23.46

v1.c23.46

In regard to infant marriages the Sūtras generally admit the advisability of marrying a girl when she is still too young to wear clothes, that is, before she becomes adult, or shows signs of maturity. The later law and practice are all at variance on this point. One of the epic heroes marries at sixteen a princess still playing with her dolls but old enough to become a mother shortly afterwards. The epic rule is that a bridegroom of thirty should marry a girl of ten, a bridegroom of twenty-one a girl of seven (XIII, 44, 14). Arrian (23, 9) reports that Indian girls were married at seven. Sītā is said to have married Rāma at six! The rule of Manu is that a bridegroom of thirty shall marry a girl of twelve, one of twenty-four, a girl of eight (IX, 94); he also recommends that a girl shall not marry at all unless a suitable bridegroom appear; but again he countenances infant-marriages (IX, 88 and 89).