History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c40.160.1

v3.c40.160.1

From the times of the Tai. S. rules have been laid down about the duties of a rajasvalā (a woman in her monthly illness) and about how her husband and other people are to act towards her. In the Tai. S. II. 5. 1. it is stated¹⁹¹⁷ ‘One should not address a woman who has unclean clothes (i. e. who is in her course) nor should one sit with her, one should not eat her food for she keeps emitting the colour of brāhmaṇa murder; they say woman's food is unguent, therefore one should not accept unguent from her; but anything else at will may be accepted’. The Tai. Br. III. 7. 1 states ‘Indeed half of this sacrifice is destroyed in the case of him whose wife becomes untouchable on the day on which the observances for a sacrifice commence (i. e. on the day previous to the performance); but the sacrificer should segregate her (in a different place or house) and offer the sacrifice; by so doing he worships with a sacrifice that is entire (though the wife is absent).’¹⁹¹⁸ The adhikaraṇa in Jaimini (III. 4. 18-19) is based on these texts; Śabara's bhāṣya quotes the passage of the Tai. S. and of the Tai. Br. and the conclusion established is that these rules, though occurring in the context of the new moon and full moon sacrifices, are not restricted to those sacrifices, but are to be observed by persons generally (i. e. they are *puruṣārtha* and not *kratvartha*). The Tai. S. II. 5.