DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9551#0177
of burning widows alive. 165
how this text, which forbids vain glory, is applicable to
the question before us, which relates to the Concrema-
tion of widows.
Section VII.
In your 20th page, you have stated for us, that we do
not object to the practice of Concremation, but to the
tying down of the widow to the pile before setting it on
fire. I reply. This is very incorrect, for it is a gross
misrepresentation of our argument; because Concrema-
tion or Postcrematon is a work performed for the sake
of future reward, which the Oopunishud and the Geeta,
and other Shastrus, have declared to be most contemp-
tible. Consequently, replying on those Shastrus, it has
been always our object to dissuade widows from the act
of Concremation or Postcremation, that they might not,
for the sake of the debased enjoyment of corporeal
pleasures, renounce the attainment of divine knowledge.
As to the mode in which you murder widows by tying
them to the pile, we do exert ourselves to prevent such
deeds, for those who are witnesses to an act of murder,
and neglect to do any thing towards its prevention, are
accomplices in the crime.
In justification of the crime of burniug widows by force,
you have stated, towards the foot of the same page, that in
those countries where it is the custom for widows to
ascend the flaming pile, there cannot be any dispute as
to the propriety of following that mode ; but where that
is not the mode followed, and it is the practice for those
that burn the corpse to place a portion of fire contiguous
to the pile, so that it may gradually make its way to the
how this text, which forbids vain glory, is applicable to
the question before us, which relates to the Concrema-
tion of widows.
Section VII.
In your 20th page, you have stated for us, that we do
not object to the practice of Concremation, but to the
tying down of the widow to the pile before setting it on
fire. I reply. This is very incorrect, for it is a gross
misrepresentation of our argument; because Concrema-
tion or Postcrematon is a work performed for the sake
of future reward, which the Oopunishud and the Geeta,
and other Shastrus, have declared to be most contemp-
tible. Consequently, replying on those Shastrus, it has
been always our object to dissuade widows from the act
of Concremation or Postcremation, that they might not,
for the sake of the debased enjoyment of corporeal
pleasures, renounce the attainment of divine knowledge.
As to the mode in which you murder widows by tying
them to the pile, we do exert ourselves to prevent such
deeds, for those who are witnesses to an act of murder,
and neglect to do any thing towards its prevention, are
accomplices in the crime.
In justification of the crime of burniug widows by force,
you have stated, towards the foot of the same page, that in
those countries where it is the custom for widows to
ascend the flaming pile, there cannot be any dispute as
to the propriety of following that mode ; but where that
is not the mode followed, and it is the practice for those
that burn the corpse to place a portion of fire contiguous
to the pile, so that it may gradually make its way to the