[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915) › v1.c5.341 # Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.341 Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.341 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c5.341](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v1.c5.341) ¹ The first half of the śloka (212.29) is = Draupadyā sahāsīnam anyam no 'nyo 'bhidarçayet. Böhtlingk's rendering: "to betray" is quite a mistaken one. Cp. 213.19, 27, 31, 32. It can be seen how foreign to the Aryan Indians polyandric relations are. Where polyandry prevails the matter is mostly very easily arranged. Either each sharer in the marriage then takes his turn on his fixed days, or a sign before the entrance to the woman warns the others. Such a cave canem before the gate to the common love-paradise was among the Massagetae the quiver, of the man who was with her, hanging to the wife's waggon; among the Nasamones in Libya the happy man left his staff at the door; so, too, in Arabia Felix and among the Sabæans. Hartland, \*Primitive Paternity\*, ii, 130; Ed. Meyer, \*Geschichte des Altertums\*, i, ³, pp. 25, 30; Lippert, \*Kulturgesch.\*, ii, 11-12. The staff, arrow, or shoe among the old Arabs had to be shown to keep away him that was not called. Welhausen, \*Gött. Nachr.\* 1893, p. 462. Cp. 464. The Tiyan in Malabar make use of a knife in the doorframe as a warning sign, the Izhuva or Taudan in South Malabar make use of a vessel with water before the entrance. Hartland, l.c., ii, pp. 165 f. As is well known it is not only poverty that is the cause of polyandry, as has been asserted. Rather the wife of many is just as proud of her wealth in husbands as the polygamist is of his crowd of wives; and the Tibetan woman, for instance, pities her poor European sister who has to be satisfied with only one representative of manhood. No: the more husbands, the greater happiness. Hartland, ii, 161 ff. Cp. 182. - [Previous: v1.c5.340](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v1.c5.340) - [Next: v1.c5.342](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v1.c5.342) - [Up: v1.c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v1.c5) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v1.c5.341](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v1.c5.341) · Pramāṇa