Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.233

v1.c5.233

But to carry off the wedded wife of a man, which not only often among savages and barbarians,² but, as is well known, also, for instance, among our Germanic forefathers, was looked on as a glorious deed, is a thing which is very strongly condemned; and xii, 35.25 lays down an atonement for this crime. Even from the robber it is expected that he shall keep from stealing women, as also from intercourse with the wives of others (xii, 133.17); cp. what the pious robber in 135.13, 14 demands from his men.¹ In the list of Çiçupāla’s sins it is also remarked that he has stolen a man’s wife, also, however, that he has carried off a girl, though, indeed, not for marriage (ii, 45.10 f.).²