In ancient Indian law, the concept of punishment was not merely a penalty for an act committed, but a means of maintaining social order, ensuring the continuity of religious obligations, and re-establishing cosmic order. Therefore, the concepts of crime, punishment, and atonement were not considered entirely independent of each other, but rather complementary elements. (Kane, 0000, p. 00)

In the Dharmaśāstra texts, when determining penal provisions, the nature of the act committed, the perpetrator's intent, social status, the victim's position, and the circumstances under which the crime was committed were taken into account. Consequently, the same act could have different legal consequences for different individuals. This section will examine the fundamental characteristics of ancient Indian religious penal law, the purpose of punishment, its application, and the main principles constituting the penal system. (Lingat, 0000, p. 00)