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Vasishtha insists on a life of Brahma charya for six months, whereas
Kautilya adds another month to it. Though Kautilya allows remarriage of widows, he gives
preference to a life of chastity; and even in the matter of remarriage of
widows Kautilya
restricts their freedom by ordaining that their father-in-law shall make the selection for
them.
On the death of her husband a woman desirous of leading a pious life
shall at once receive not only her endowment and jewellery, but also the balance of Sulka
due to her. If, after obtaining these two things, she remarries another, she shall be
compelled to pay them back together with interest (on their value).
If she is desirous of a second marriage, she shall be given, on the
occasion of her remarriage, what- ever either her father- in- law or her husband or both
had given to her’. But ‘...if a widow marries any man other than of her
father-in-law’s selection, she shall forfeit whatever has been given to her by her
father-in-law and her deceased husband'. 4
In the case of a remarried widow, the people of her new home have to
return to her former father-in-law ‘whatever property of her own she had taken with
her while remarrying a kinsman.’ After re marriage a woman will lose her right to the
property of her deceased husband. But ‘if she lives a pious life, she may enjoy such
property.’ This must be a later interpolation.
In cases where a woman who has sons, marries again, the property of her
former husband will go to her sons, and she cannot enjoy it herself.
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