Sudharma dd: Is Srila Prabhupada Referring to Brutal Assault When He Uses the Term Rape?
Rape & Illicit Defined
Today, the definition of rape has become synonymous with brutal assault. But for Srila Prabhupada, his definition is based on the social standards and laws of Vedic society and thus is much broader.
Rape is defined as sex against society’s norms and/or law. Another definition of rape is to seize or plunder as in to seize or plunder womanhood, virginity.
To understand what type of sex falls within the purview of ‘against society’s laws and norms’ one need only look to a word very commonly used by Srila Prabhuapda, illicit. Illicit is defined as “outside of the law; illegal; illegitimate.” All devotees accepting initiation must follow four regulative principles, one of which is “no illicit sex.” While the definition of no illicit sex may vary slightly, all devotees would agree that at a minimum, it means no sex outside of marriage.
So, what is rape for Srila Prabhupada? Rape is comprised of sexual acts outside of marriage. Even consensual sex endangers the degrades the women involved and may produce unwanted children who will be raised without proper care. (BG 1.40) Which leads us to the discussion, can rape be consensual?
King Puranjana Meets His Future Wife: Do Women Like A Man Who is Very Expert at Rape? (SB 4.25.41-2)
There is an allegorical tale told in the Srimad Bhagavatam of a king with unlimited desire for sense enjoyment. Thus he begins a quest in which he travels the world seeking to find a place where all his desires could be fulfilled. In time he comes to a glorious city, and within it a restful garden, and within the garden he crosses paths with a beautiful, unwed woman. The king, ripe with sensual interest, is enchanted by the girl’s features and immediately begins to woo her. Breaking social custom, he speaks to her directly of his interest. “Who are you, why are you here in this garden, you seem to be without husband and I am finding you very beautiful, in fact you are agitating the most powerful cupid within me. Please be merciful upon me.” This young lady also became attracted by his words and beauty and states to the king that she can think or little else but the fact that they are here in this enchanting garden together. “O killer of the enemy, you have somehow or other come here. This is certainly great fortune for me. I wish all auspicious things for you. You have a great desire to satisfy your senses, I shall try in all respects to fulfill your desires. O my dear hero, who in this world will not accept a husband like you? You are so famous, so magnanimous, so beautiful and so easily gotten.” At this point Srila Prabhupada writes: “A man is always famous for his aggression toward a beautiful woman, and such aggression is sometimes considered rape. Although rape is not legally allowed, it is a fact that a woman likes a man who is very expert at rape.”
Taken with the current definition of rape, this statement reads as a reprehensible sentiment. Justifiably, because today’s definition of rape equates to a heinous and vicious crime, “unlawful sexual intercourse without the consent of the victim; the offense of forcing sexual intercourse upon a person against a person’s will.’
However, the definition that Srila Prabhupada is actually utilizing is evident through the story itself. The king was aggressive in his display of sexual interest. Even though they were not married, did not know each other, had not courted, the beautiful woman responded favorably to his advances. She loved his long beautiful arms and how he used them to embrace her. To Srila Prabhupada’s definition, King Puranjana was very expert at rape. In time, the couple married and lived together for 100 years.
Morning Walk Discussion: Yes, that is the law always. Rape means without consent, sex.
(Morning Walk, May 11, 1975, Perth)
So, if the definition given above is an accurate one (For Srila Prabhupada, that rape is comprised of sex outside of marriage), then why does he say, “Yes, that is law always. Rape means without consent, sex. Otherwise there is no rape.”
In this text, Srila Prabhupada is responding to a question from a disciple about the modern day system of justice. The devotee mentions that there is a burden of proof placed on the victim to prove that the act was not a consensual one, and thus he responds, “Yes, that is the law always. Rape means without consent, sex.”
How can such a system be just? The nature of the body dictates that when there is sexual interaction the body naturally produces a response. How this response is received will vary according to the nature of the individual involved and the experience itself. A distasteful experience will leave the victim with distasteful memories. But it is not that women are never attracted to acts of sexual aggression outside of marriage. “It’s not that woman do not like rape,” Srila Prabhupada states. “They like sometimes.” They may agree to purely exploitative sexual acts because they are enchanted by the man’s beauty, fame, etc. or they may wish to explore without boundaries, or they may not believe in restricting their sensual urges. But even if there is consent, these acts are still generally distasteful within Vedic society, especially to those who understand the suffering of the living entity and practice sense control.
Interestingly, there are few complaints about this statement, “Without married life he (a man) will commit rape in so many ways,” It is commonly understood that men are hungry in their sexual aggression.
Conclusion
Srila Prabhupada is making these statements not to ridicule, subjugate, demoralize or compare the sexual interests of men and women. Rather, out of mercy and pain for the suffering of the living entity, he is simply stating what the soul is enduring with an aim to cutting the knot of material attachment.
“There is no law; it is all lusty desire, that’s all,” he states. “These are all nonsense. Everyone in this material world has come with these lusty desires and greediness. Even demigods like Lord Śiva, Lord Brahmā… The Lord Brahmā became lusty after his daughter. And Lord Śiva became so mad after Mohinī–murti. So what to speak of us insignificant creatures. So lusty desire is there. That is material world. Unless one is fully transcendental, and Krishna conscious, this lusty desire cannot be checked. It is not possible.”