vʻYAvAs‘rftA**pÁRPANA. the death of her husband " and himself answers it, thus ઃ she has an immediate title because she is diepoed tu) perform those duties : but afterwards if her propensities, happen to change, she forfeits the right which she had fully possessed.” In Havířa’s text (“A woman. widowed and young is untractablo 3 but separate property"must always be given to women. that they pass their destined life, ) young få mentioned as índicating the pośsibility of äðultery. By youth that age is not strictly meant, for, a woman, though young, who is knöwn to be well-disposed. bas the light of inheritance by universal consent. By the term ‘untractable is suggested the neglect of the dutie- of widowhooå.* See Coleb. Dig. B. V. 'i'ext 409 (Vol. III. p. 479.) * - . - *
- The duties of widows are prescribed as follows :
“Let her emaciate her body, by living voluntarily on pure flowers, roots, and fruits; but let her not, when . her lord is deceased, even pronounce the game of another man. Let her continue till death forgiving all injuries, performing harsh duties, avoiding every sensual pleasure, and practising the incomparable rules of virtue, which have been followed by such women as were devoted to one only husband. Many thousands of Brähmanas having avoided sensuality from their early youth, and hāving left no issue in their families, have ascended (neverthless) to heaven. And like those abstemious men, a virtuous wife ascends to heaven, though she have no child, is, after the decease of her lord, she devote herself to pious austerity. But a widow who, from a wish to bear children, slights her (deceased) husband (by marrying again,) brings disgrace on herself here below, and shall be excluded from the seat of her lord.” Manu. Ch. V. “Let her continue, as long as she lives, performing austere duties, avoiding every sensual pleasure, and cheerfully practising those rules of virtue which have been followed by such women as were devoted to one (only husband). Neither in the Vedas, nor in the sacred code, is religious seclusion allowed to a woman : her own duties, practised with a husband of equal class, are indeed her religious rites : this is the settled rule. Eighty-eight thousand holy sages of the sacerdotal classo superior to sensual appetites, and having left no nale issue, have ascended (nevertheless) to heaven. Like then, a damsel, becoming a widow, and devoting herself to pious austerity, shall attain heaven though she have ruo son : this, Manu. sprung from the Self-existent, has declared. Yama. “After the death of her husband, a wife must practice austerities, or ascend (the pile) after him.” Vishnu. “Leaving her husband's favourite abode, keeping her tongue, hands, feet, and (other) organs in subjec- . tion, strict in her conduct, all day mourning her husband, with harsh duties, devotion, and fasts to the end of her life, a widow victoriously gains her husband's abode, and repeatedly acquires the same mansion with her lord, as is thus declared: That filithful woman who practises harsh duties after the death of her lord, cancels all her sins, and acquires the same mansion with her lord.” Hárita. “A wife is considered as half the body of her husband, equally sharing the fruit of pure and impure acts : whether she ascend (the pile) after him or survive for the benefit of her husband, she is a faithful wife. Strict in austerities and rigid devotion, firm in avoiding sensuality, and ever patient and liberal, a widow attains heaven, even though she have no son.” Vrihaspati. “Only one meal each day should ever be made (by a widow,) not a second repast by any means; and a widowed woman, sleeping on a bedstead, would cause her husband to fall (from a region of joy). She must not again use perfumed substances : but daisy make offerings for her husband, with kusa-grass, tit, and water. In the months of Voishākha, Kártika, and Mágha, let her observe special fasts, perform ablutions, make gifts, travel to places of pilgrimage, and repeatedly utter the name of Vishnu.” Smriti. “Though her husband die guilty of many crimes, if she remain ever firm in virtuous condnct, obsequiously, honouring her spiritual parents, and devoting herself to pious austerity after the death of her husband, that faithful widow is exalted to heaven, as equal in virtue to Arundhati.” Kātyāyana. See Coleb. I)ig. Vol. II. p. 460—465. - - , J
