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IX, 152.
INHERITANCE.
357
those begotten by one man on many wives of different (castes).
149. If there be four wives of a Brâhmana in the direct order of the castes, the rule for the division (of the estate) among the sons born of them is as follows:
150. The (slave) who tills (the field), the bull kept for impregnating cows, the vehicle, the ornaments, and the house shall be given as an additional portion to the Brâhmana (son), and one most excellent share.
151. Let the son of the Brâhmani (wife) take three shares of the (remainder of the) estate, the son of the Kshatriya two, the son of the Vaisyà a share and a half, and the son of the Sudrà may take one share.
152. Or let him who knows the law make ten shares of the whole estate, and justly distribute them according to the following rule:
149–156. Gaut. XXVIII, 35-39 ; Vas. XVII, 48-50; Baudh. II, 3, 10; Vi. XVIII, 1-33, 38-40; Yâgñ. II, 125.
150. The ornaments.' i.e. the ring which the father used to wear, and the like' (Medh., Kull.). "The house,' i.e. the principal mansion' (Medh., Kull., Râgh.). Ekâmsas ka pradhânatah, one most excellent share' (Medh., Kull.), means according to Nâr., with whom Nand. agrees, and one share consisting of the chief, i. e. best property' (pradhânato mukhyadhanád utkrishtâd ity arthah), and according to Râgh. and one share, because he is the chief person.' According to Nar. this one share' must be equal in value to one of the three shares mentioned in the next verse.
151. Medh. and Kull. remark that the rule holds good also if there are more sons than one in each class.
152. According to Nár. this rule refers to the case when each of the wives has several sons, while the preceding one is applicable when each wife has one son only. Râgh. thinks that the first rule shall be followed when the son of the Brâhmanî possesses good qualities, the second when he is destitute of them.
ASS.
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