For these reasons a man should guard his own wife. Old authors say that a King should select for sentinels in his harem such men as have had their freedom from carnal desires well tested. But such men, though free themselves from carnal desire, by reason of their fear or avarice, may cause other persons to enter the harem, and therefore Gonikaputra says, that Kings should place such men in the harem as may have had their freedom from carnal desires, their fears, and their avarice well tested. Lastly Vatsyayana says that under the influence of Dharma[1] people might be admitted, and therefore men should be selected who are free from carnal desires, fear, avarice, and Dharma[2].
The followers of Babhravya say that a man should cause his wife to associate with a young woman who would tell him the secrets of other people, and thus find out from her about his wife's chastity. But Vatsyayana says, that as wicked persons are always successful with women, a man should not cause his innocent wife to be corrupted by bringing her into the company of a deceitful woman.
The following are the causes of the destruction of a woman's chastity.
- Always going into society, and sitting in company.
- Absence of restraint.
- The loose habits of her husband.
- Want of caution in her relations with other men.
- Continued and long absence of her husband.
- Living in a foreign country.
- Destruction of her love and feelings by her husband.
- The company of loose women.
- The jealousy of her husband.
There are also the following verses on the subject.
"A clever man, learning from the Shastras the ways of winning over the wives of other people, is never deceived in the case of his own wives. No one, however, should make use of these ways for seducing the wives of others, because they do not always succeed, and, moreover, often cause disasters, and the destruction of Dharma and Artha. This book, which is intended for the good of the people, and to teach them the ways of guarding their own wives, should not be made use of merely for gaining over the wives of others."
- ↑ This may be considered as meaning religious influence, and alludes to persons who might be gained over by that means.
- ↑ It will be noted from the above remarks that eunuchs do not appear to have been employed in the King's harem in those days, though they seem to have been employed for other purposes. Sec Part 2, page 60.
