by illustrious Rishis fully acquainted with every rule of morality. O thou of handsome face and sweet smiles, women formerly were not immured within houses and dependent on husbands and other relatives. They used to go about freely, enjoying as best liked them. O thou of excellent qualities, they did not then adhere to their husbands faithfully, and yet, O handsome one, they were not regarded sinful, for that was the sanctioned usage of the times. That very usage is followed to this day by birds and beasts without any exhibition of jealousy. That practice, sanctioned by precedent, is applauded by great Rishis. And, O thou of tapering thighs, the practice is yet regarded with respect amongst the northern Kurus. Indeed, this usage so lenient to women hath the sanction of antiquity. The present practice, however, (of women being confined to one husband for life) hath been established but lately. I shall tell thee in detail who established it and for what.
"'It hath been heard by us that there was a great Rishi of name Uddalaka. He had a son of name Shetaketu who also was an ascetic of merit. O thou of eyes like lotus leaves, the present virtuous practice hath been established by that Shetaketu from anger. Hear thou the reason. One day, in the presence of Shetaketu's father, a Brahmana came and catching Shetaketu's mother by the hand, told her, Let us go. Beholding his mother seized by the hand and taken away apparently by force, the son, moved by wrath, became very indignant. Seeing his son indignant, Uddalaka addressed him and said,—Be not angry, O son! This is the practice sanctioned by antiquity. The women of all orders in this world are free. O son, men in this matter, as regards their respective orders, act as kine.—The Rishi's son Shetaketu, however, disapproved of the usage and established in the world the present usage as regards men and women. It hath been heard by us, O thou of great virtue, that the existing practice dates from that period among human beings but not among beings of other classes. Accordingly, since the establishment of the present usage, it is sinful for women not to adhere to their husbands. Women transgressing the limits assigned by
