The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c9.18

c9.18

We begin to get stray references to the custom of Satī from about 300 B. C. The Mahābhārata, a major portion of which was composed at about this time, knows of one, but only one, case of Satī, *viz.*, that of Mādrī. But even in her case, it is interesting to note that the assembled sages try their best to dissuade her from her resolve. Mādrī, however, is unmoved by their arguments. She says that she is determined to die with her husband, firstly because she was the cause of his death, secondly because she would be unable to control her passions, and thirdly because she may find it difficult to treat evenly her sons and stepsons¹. No argument of any religious merit is assigned by her or any body else. The wives of Abhimanyu and Ghaṭotkacha survive their spouses². The epic records no other case of Satī. There is a talk of Draupadī being consigned to flames along with the remains of Kīchaka, but that was merely for the sake of revenge³.