The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c13.s1.22

c13.s1.22

The motive of atonement is also made prominent in the curious role assigned to the sacrificer's wife. She is led up by the pratiprasthātṛ officiant from her usual place at the back of the sacrificial emplacement behind the gārhapatya hearth and bluntly asked who her paramour is, or even worse, how many paramours she has.²⁶ She is expected to state truthfully the name of her paramour, who is then cursed to be seized by Varuṇa. It would, of course, be unwarranted to take this confession rite as evidence for ancient Indian habits and morality. The main point is the reversal that turns untruth (*anṛta*) into truth (*ṛta, satya*) and transfers untruth to the rival, who is seized by Varuṇa.