The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c16.12

c16.12

Thus Vasiṣṭha declares that if a woman is taken into captivity by an enemy, or spirited away by thieves, or ravished against her will, she ought not to be abandoned by her family¹. The same is the view of Atri, who points out that one such misfortune ought not to be allowed to ruin the whole life of a woman². An ordinary penance ought to be quite sufficient. Parāśara advocates a similar considerate treatment³. The *Matsyapurāṇa* points out that it would be absurd to condemn a woman, because she is overpowered and ravished ; in such a case the assaulter alone is guilty and ought to be punished with death⁴.