Kautilya's Arthashastra 3.11.16

3.11.16

asāraṃ bālaprātibhāvyam //

Sons of a deceased debtor shall pay the principal with interest (kusí dam). (In the absence of sons), kinsmen claiming the share of the dead man or sureties, such as joint partners of the debt, (sahagráhinah pratibhuvo vá) shall pay the same. No other kind of surety is valid (na prátibhávyamanyat); a minor, as surety, is inefficient (bálaprátibhavyam asáram = surety of a minor is not strong).