Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c13.54

v2.c13.54

Pregnancy at a very tender age is one of the signs of the oncoming end of the world (iii, 188.60; 190.49). Just as dreadful is the killing of the fruit of the womb. This crime, which is so often most strongly condemned by the Indians, and which is heavily punished in the law books, can according to the Mahābhārata only thus be atoned for : " The fœtus-slayer is cleansed of his sin if in the midst of battle the weapon lights on him (and kills him), or by his sacrificing himself in a kindled fire ; thereby is he cleansed of his sin " (xii, 165. 46, 47).¹