The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c13.9

c13.9

The Mahābhārata, however, states that the assembly began to hiss loudly when Dharma proceeded to stake his wife³. It would therefore appear that though the husband's proprietary right in the wife was theoretically recognised, its actual excercise met with a stern social disapprobation. It was felt that only intoxicated or inhuman persons could think of excercising it⁴. In the Vedic age also, it was only a confirmed gambler who would sometimes stake his wife. In cultured circles the wife was regarded as the co-owner of the family property along with her husband, as the term *dampatī* would show.