The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 13.49.20

13.49.20

bhīṣma uvāca |
mātāpitṛbhyāṃ saṃtyaktaṃ pathi yaṃ tu pralakṣayet |
na cāsya mātāpitarau jñāyete sa hi kṛtrimaḥ || 20 ||

"Bhishma said, 'When a person takes up and rears a son that has been cast off on the road by his father and mother, and when the person thus taking and rearing him fails to find out his parents after search, he becomes the father of such a son and the latter becomes what is called his made son. Not having anybody to own him, he becomes owned by him who brings him up. Such a son, again, comes to be regarded as belonging to that order to which his owner or rearer belongs.'