Which one of the following texts of ancient India allows divorce to a wife deserted by her husband?

The correct answer is D, Arthashastra. Written by Chanakya (Kautilya), the Arthashastra is a comprehensive treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy. Unlike many other ancient Indian legal texts that viewed marriage as an indissoluble sacrament, the Arthashastra recognized marriage more as a civil contract. In the chapter concerning the duties of husband and wife, Kautilya details specific conditions under which a marriage can be dissolved. It explicitly allows a woman to seek a divorce (Moksha) if she has been deserted by her husband for a long period, if he is of bad character, or if he has become an outcaste. It also allows for mutual separation if both parties agree to it due to mutual enmity. In contrast, texts like the Manavadharmashastra (Manusmriti) generally emphasize the lifelong bond of marriage and do not formally provide for divorce in the same legal manner.