The laws of Kautilya are not severe towards women. The desire for begetting a son is still the predominant factor in society, and laws are framed in its favour. Kautilya's laws made it difficult for a man to re-marry. The demand for women was high, and a maiden was bought by payment of a Sulka to her parents.

Kautilya lays stress on this in every point relating to women. The sanctity and the binding nature of a marriage contract were connected, with this Sulka. Stridhana or woman’s property found a definite legal recognition at Court, and if could not be appropriated even by a king on failure of natural heirs.

From the severe punishments that he irnposes12 on men for defiling a maiden, it can be concluded that he allowed marriage only when the girls had attained maturity.

The proper marriage cable age for a girl is three years after her maturity: for he inflicts severe punishment on a man who defiles a maiden 'who has not attained maturity ‘ 13 and pardons one who defiles a maiden who remains unmarried for three years after her maturity.