Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c8.57

v1.c8.57

² The views held in the law literature and the Purāṇas on intercourse with the woman that is not one’s wedded wife, but particularly with the wife of another, are no less severe. Here we can only give a few instances. The adulterer has a short life and goes to a hell of torment. Mārk.-Pur., xxxiv, 62; xiv, 76; Agnipur., 203.15, 20. He shall be put to death, unless he is a Brahman. Baudh., ii, 2, 4.1; Manu, viii, 539 (cp. 352 f.). In adultery the man’s penis and testicles are to be cut off, in evil-doing with a maiden his property shall be seized, and he banished from the land. Āpast., ii, 10, 26.20-21; 27.1. The king must then shield such women and maidens from stain and hand them over to their guardian, if they promise to undertake the prescribed penances. When they have done these they must be treated as they were before their fall. Cp. Meyer, *Altind. Rechtsschr.*, index under “Ehebruch”. Besides these, however, there are also lighter punish-