A History of Sanskrit Literature c9.53

c9.53

Among crimes, the commonest appears to have been robbery, which generally took the form of cattle-lifting, mostly practised at night. Thieves and robbers are often mentioned, and the *Rigveda* contains many prayers for protection at home, abroad, and on journeys. Such criminals, when caught, were punished by being tied to stakes with cords. Debts (*ṛiṇa*) were often incurred, chiefly, it would seem, at play, and the *Rigveda* even speaks of paying them off by instalments.