Page 62 - Defending Prabhupada Words - By Harivlas Das

There was no evidence of brute physical force used to
subdue the young woman by Bryant. She entered his hotel
room voluntarily and the two engaged in conversation
that resulted in contact. She claims he raped her, he claims
it was consensual. Srila Prabhupada’s point is that a man’s
aggressive pursuit of a beautiful woman may sometimes
be considered rape (as in the Bryant case, although the
rape case against Bryant was dropped by the woman and
the prosecutors.) Srila Prabhupada recognizes that rape is
an illegal act, but he rightfully acknowledges that a woman
(especially young, unmarried women as in the specific
context of Narada Muni’s narration) are attracted to men
who are expert at suggestive words and aggressive gestures
that lead to sex. Srila Prabhupada has qualified the use of
the word rape as “aggression toward a beautiful woman”,
which may be pleasing or reprehensible according to the
sensibility of the woman. In the particular case of Bryant,
the young woman considered his aggressive acts as rape.
It is possible that another young woman (such as Bryant’s
young wife) may consider his “aggression” as aggressive
mercy (ghna-uddhata). The woman in Narada Muni’s
narration introduces this idea.

“O mighty-armed, who in this world will not be attracted
by your arms, which are just like the bodies of serpents?
Actually you relieve the distress of husbandless women
like us by your attractive smile and your aggressive mercy.

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