Yajnavalkya-smriti (Vyavaharadhyaya)鈥擟ritical study
by Kalita Nabanita | 2017 | 87,413 words
This page relates 鈥楥hastity as a supreme virtue of woman鈥� of the study on the Vyavaharadhyaya of the Yajnavalkya-smriti: one of the most prominent Smritis dealing with Dharmashastra (ancient Indian science of law), dating to the 1st century B.C. The Yajnavalkyasmriti scientifically arranges its contents in three sections: Acara (proper conduct), Vyavahara (proper law) and Prayashcitta (expiation). Vyavahara deals with judicial procedure and legal system such as substantive law and procedural law.
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Chapter 3.5d - Chastity as a supreme virtue of woman
Chastity has been considered the supreme virtue of woman in India since long. In the 驰腻箩帽补惫补濒办测补蝉尘峁泃颈, it may be noticed that position of a woman is sometimes determined by her chastity. 驰腻箩帽补惫补濒办测补 lays down that the childless wives who are of good conduct should be maintained, but those who are unchaste and perverse are to be banished from the habitation.[1] Therefore, adultery is treated as a grave criminal offence in the social set-up of 驰腻箩帽补惫补濒办测补鈥檚 period.[2]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
aputr膩 yo峁ta艣cai峁Ｄ佱箖 bhartavy膩岣� s膩dhuv峁泃taya岣�/ nirv膩sy膩 vyabhic膩ri峁噛a岣� pratik奴t膩stathaiva ca// 驰腻箩帽补惫补濒办测补蝉尘峁泃颈, 2.142
[2]:
Ibid., 2.283-294