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358
LAWS OF MANU.
IX, 153.
153. The Brâhmana (son) shall take four shares, the son of the Kshatriya (wife) three, the son of the Vaisyâ shall have two parts, the son of the Sadra may take one share.
154. Whether (a Brâhmana) have sons or have no sons (by wives of the twice-born castes), the (heir) must, according to the law, give to the son of a Sadra (wife) no more than a tenth (part of his estate).
155. The son of a Brâhmana, a Kshatriya, and a Vaisya by a Sudra (wife) receives no share of the inheritance; whatever his father may give to him, that shall be his property.
156. All the sons of twice-born men, born of wives of the same caste, shall equally divide the estate, after the others have given to the eldest an additional share.
157. For a Sudra is ordained a wife of his own caste only (and) no other; those born of her shall have equal shares, even if there be a hundred sons.
153. Medh. points out that according to other Smritis the Brâhmana son alone receives land, given to his father, and that the Sadra son receives no share in land, if there is Other property.
154. Hence on failure of other sons the other heirs, the Sapindas (Medh.), or the widow and the rest (Nâr.), shall take the rest of the estate. Når. adds that he may obtain more than a tenth, if his father give it to him.
155. The son of a Sudra wife receives no share of his father's estate in case the mother was not legally married (Medh. 'others,' Kull.), or in case he is destitute of good qualities (Kull., Râgh.). According to Medh. and Nâr., na rikthabhâk, 'receives no share of the inheritance,' means 'receives no (larger) share (than one-tenth, except if the father himself has given more to him.' But it seems more probable, that the verse is intended to inculcate the maxim that a son by a Sûdra wife cannot claim any fixed portion of the inheritanoe from his father who divides his estate.
156. Medh., Gov., and K. read va, 'or,' instead of ye (gâtâh), but this gives no good sense, as Medh. remarks.
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