[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) › v2.c20.40 # Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c20.40 Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c20.40 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c20.40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v2.c20.40) As among the old Germans (\*Grimm, Deutsche Rechtsaltertümer\*, ed. Heusler and Hübner, Bd. i, p. 563), among the old Israelites (\*Ztschr. d. Ver. f. Volksk.\*, Bd., ii, p. 249), and among other peoples, the woman in Old India is a chattel, or anyhow a ward, in this also, that she cannot bear witness, and this because of her lack of truthfulness (\*Nārada\*, i, 190 f.; cp. Krauss, \*Sitte u. Brauch d. Südslawen\*, 514), or because of the unsteadiness of her mind (\*Manu\*, viii, 77). Still, this is true only as a general principle, and here a responsible personality is not denied to her so much as it is elsewhere. The Old Indian law, reminding us of the English jury : he that is equal in rank shall be witness for his equal, is applied also to her : Where women are concerned (strīshu), women may and shall appear before the court as witnesses. \*Manu\*, viii, 68; Vasishtha, xvi, 30. But does she who is on trial fare very well thus? Cp. Daçakum., p. 59, note 2. - [Previous: v2.c20.39](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v2.c20.39) - [Next: v2.c20.41](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v2.c20.41) - [Up: v2.c20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v2.c20) ## Linked texts (3) - [Mānava Dharmaśāstra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.manu.8.77) — Manu & Bhṛgu, Sanskrit - [Vasiṣṭhadharmasūtra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.vedanga.kalpa.dharma.vasistha.16.30) — Vasiṣṭha, Sanskrit - [Nāradasmṛti](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.narada) — Nārada, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v2.c20.40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.meyer-1915.v2.c20.40) · Pramāṇa