Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c7.670

c7.670

Husband’s right of punishing the wife. The means of punishment at his disposal were multifarious. Thus according to M. 9, 84 he could impose upon her a fine if she indulged in spirituous drinks and took part in out-door amusements or according to M. 9, 77 f. he could take away her property if she was unamiable and disobedient or even abandon her for three months depriving her of her ornaments and furniture, yet however without withholding her sustenance. According to Nār. 12, 94 a husband should never have intercourse with a wife who is barren or gives birth only to daughters, or if she behaves unbecomingly or if she always disobeys him. In such cases another wife may be taken in the opinion of M. 9, 80 ff., Āp. 2, 11, 13, Vaikh. Gṛ. 6, 2 etc.; yet she should be provided for, and according to M. 9, 83 she should also remain in the house of her husband and according to other authors she should also receive the above mentioned compensation on the occasion of the second marriage of the husband. The husband's conjugal right of punishment such as blows with a cord or a rod is often referred to (M. 8, 299 f.; Śaṅkha 4, 16 etc.)¹