vyAvASTHA-DARPANA 5疆 Patni is the wife married in due legal form. Although from the etymolgy of the term as implying a connection with religious rites, and according to Asiana's definition: ‘Patni is the wife who is married in due legal form, who is (as it were) a second self (to the husbsnd) and who is an associate in religious rites', and also according to other authorities it appears that she who is Patn) is also dharma-patni, yet dharma-patni is generally understood to be that wife in conjunction with whom the husband performs the religious rites. The religious rites should be performed with the eldest wife living, unless she be disqualified by reason of some defect, in which case the next wife duly qualified, must be the associate in religious acts. . Thus Dakshy a 3–"The first wife is espoused from a senae of duty; the second excites sensual desire : union with her being productive of things of sense only, not spiritual things. The first wife is called the wife whom religious acts concern, provided she be free from defect ; but if she be not, then it is no offence to employ another duly qualified." See Coleb. Dig. Vol. II. p. 409. The rank of pain' belongs in the first place to a woman of the highest tribe : for the text iof SANkha, &c. ) expresses, that “the eldest wife takes the , wealth” and seniority is reckoned in the order of the tribes. Thus MANU says, “when regenerate men take wives both of their own class and “others, the precedence, honor and habitation of those wives must be settled according to the order “of their classes.” Therefore [since seniority is by tribe, a woman of equal class, though young in respect of the date of marriage, is deemed eldest. The rank of patní belongs to her, for she alone is competent to assist in the performance of sacrifices and other sacred rites. Accordingly MENu says: “To all such married men, the wives of the same class only (not wives of a different class by any means) must perform the duty of personal attendance, and the daily business relating to acts of religion. For he, who foolishly causes those duties to be performed by any other than his wife of the same class, when she is near at hand, has been immemorially considered as a merc chimdāla begottcn on a Bráhmani'." But, on failure of a wife of the same tribe, one of the tribe immediatcly following [may be employed in such duties]. Thus Wish NU ordains : “If there be no wife belonging to the same tribe, [he may execute the business relating to acts of religion] with one of the tribe immediately following, in case of distress. But a regenerate inan must not do so with a woman of the Shitdra class.” “Exceute business relating to acts of religion,’ is understood from the preceding sentence. Therefore a Bráhmani is lawful wife (patni) of a Bráñ. mana. On failure of such, a kshatriyá may be so, in case of distress; but not a Paishya', nor a Shādra'. though married to him. A Kshatriya' woman is wife of a Kshatriya man. In her default, a raishya’ woman may be so, as belonging to the next following tribe; but not a Shādra” woman. A Vaishja is the only wife for a Vaishya : since a Shitdra wife is denied in respect of thc regenerate tribes simply. Coleb. Dá. bhá. Ch. xi. scct. 1. para. 47 _ w - - From the sbove quoted passages of the Dáyabhāga, it appears that formerly marriage was permit. ted and contracted also with a woman of a different class or tribe. It is however immaterial now to advert further ty this, in as much as in the present (kali) age such unions are expressly prohibited." Patni' in the present age can signify no other than one of the same class as her husband.t
- “Undertaking sea voyages (to circumnavigate the world); the carrying of a kamandalu (by a house-holder); the marriage of twice born men (i. e. Bráhmana, Kshatriya, and Vaishya) with damsels unequal in class”—premising these and other practices, the Vrihat Näradiya Purána adds : “The wise have declared that these practices must be avoided in the Kali-age.” See Coleb. Dig. Vol. III. p. 141. These practices have also been prohibitted in the Aditya Purāna. See. Pyaw, p. 21.
+ Vide W. Då. Kra. Sang. Sect. 2. p. 7. Definition of Pain,
