War in Ancient India c4.s6.t3.23

c4.s6.t3.23

Such instances, which could be multiplied, were the outcome of the virile temper of the Kṣatriya warriors in general. It was accepted as a primitive form of marriage by the law-givers. The law of the country named it the Gāndharva form of marriage, and brought it under the rājasa system which constituted three out of the eight forms of marriage in ancient India. Does this mean rape and was it countenanced by ancient society? We certainly cannot call this method of adventure a rape, for there was the obligation on the part of the adventurer to treat the seized maiden as his wife for all legal and social purposes. He could not and did not drive away or divorce her after the satisfaction of his lust. In short, the captured maiden became the wedded wife of the knight. Thus behind the rājasa form is to be traced a thin veil of the sātvika element.