सकामायां चतुष्पञ्चाशत्पणो दण्डः स्त्रियास्त्वर्धदण्डः ॥ कZ_०४.१२.०६ ॥
sakāmāyāṃ catuṣpañcāśat-paṇo daṇḍaḥ striyās tv ardha-daṇḍaḥ
Si elle est consentante (sakāmā), l’amende est de cinquante-quatre paṇas ; pour la femme, la peine est la moitié.
Consent changes the state’s characterization of the act: coercion triggers stronger liability, while consensual wrongdoing is punished but treated as less severe.
A policy choice to reduce punitive burden on women relative to men in this category, while still discouraging the conduct.