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Vol XXII, 1998
SOME MODERN CONCEPTS OF
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(2) Datrima—A son who is given by his parents to a man, of the same caste
and having no issue, with a libation of water is considered as adopted
son 48 (3) Krtrima--A son whom a man adopts as his own son and who is of the
same caste49
(4) Gudhotpana—When a male child is born in a household and his father's
identity is not known, then that child belongs to the husband of his mother 50
Apaviddha—A male child who is deserted by his parents and is taken by
another man as his son, he is called 'a cast off son' (6) Kānīna--A son born to an unmarried damsel while she is in her father's
house This son belongs to him, whom she wedssi (7) Sahodha—Knowingly or unknowingly, when one mamies a pregnant bride,
the child of hers belongs to him whom she marries 52 (8) Krtaka-When one buys male child from his father and mother for the
sake of a having son, he is called Krtaka son (9) Paunarbhava—A son of a remarried woman by her second husband is
classed under this category Lawmakers have given a subtle thought for the placement of such children in the social set up It could be psychologically difficult for any man to accept a pregnant bride or he may abandon her after knowing the fact In the case of 'Gudhotpama' son, if there were not any law to protect such a child, then he would have had to live as an orphan All these children were not disowned Apaviddha son was adopted out of sheer pity and compassion A maiden's son also was looked after in her father's house and law authorised him to officiate as the child's father who marries the maiden Ancient law thus seems to have made provision for such children and made some corrections for some of the human failures
FOOTNOTES
1 Rgveda - X. 85 36 2 Rg X. 22-46 3 Manu smrti, IX, 1
