Kautilya's Arthashastra 3.6: Chapter 6 (Section 60): Partition of Inheritance (cont.)

3.6.1

ekastrīputrāṇāṃ jyeṣṭhāṃśaḥ - brāhmaṇānām ajāḥ, kṣatriyāṇām aśvāḥ, vaiśyānāṃ gāvaḥ, śūdrāṇām avayaḥ //

GOATS shall be the special shares of the eldest of sons, born of the same mother, among, Bráhmans; horses among Kshatriyas; cows among Vaisyas; and sheep among Súdras. The blind of the same animals shall be the special shares to the middle-most sons; species of variegated colour of the same animals shall be the special shares to the youngest of sons. In the absence of quadruped, the eldest shall take an additional share of the whole property excepting precious stones; for by this act alone, he will be bound in his duty to his ancestors.

3.6.2

kāṇalaṅgās teṣāṃ madhyamāṃśaḥ, bhinnavarṇāḥ kaniṣṭhāṃśaḥ //

3.6.3

catuṣpadābhāve ratnavarjānāṃ daśānāṃ bhāgaṃ dravyāṇām ekaṃ jyeṣṭho haret //

3.6.4

pratimuktasvadhāpāśo hi bhavati //

3.6.5

ity auśanaso vibhāgaḥ //

The above method is in accordance with the rules observed among the followers of Usanas.

3.6.6

pituḥ parivāpād yānam ābharaṇaṃ ca jyeṣṭhāṃśaḥ, śayanāsanaṃ bhuktakāṃsyaṃ ca madhyamāṃśaḥ, kṛṣṇaṃ dhānyāyasaṃ gṛhaparivāpo gośakaṭaṃ ca kaniṣṭhāṃśaḥ //

The father being dead, his carriage and jewellery shall be the special share to the eldest; his bed, seat, and bronze plate in which he used to take his meals (bhuktakámsyam), to the middle-most;. and black grains, iron, domestic utensils, cows and cart to the youngest. The rest of the property, or the above things, too, may be equally divided among themselves. Sisters shall have no claim to inheritance; they shall have the bronze plate and jewellery of their mother after her death. An impotent eldest son shall have only 1/3rd of the special share usually given to the eldest; if the eldest son follows a condemnable occupation or if he has given up the observance of religious duties, he shall have only ¼ of the special share; if he is unrestrained in his actions he shall have nothing.

3.6.7

śeṣadravyāṇām ekadravyasya vā samo vibhāgaḥ //

3.6.8

adāyādā bhaginyaḥ, mātuḥ parivāpād bhuktakāṃsyābharaṇabhāginyaḥ //

3.6.9

mānuṣahīno jyeṣṭhas tṛtīyam aṃśaṃ jyeṣṭhāṃśāl labheta, caturtham anyāyavṛttiḥ, nivṛttadharmakāryo vā //

3.6.10

kāmācāraḥ sarvaṃ jīyeta //

3.6.11

tena madhyamakaniṣṭhau vyākhyātau //

The same rule shall hold good with the middlemost and youngest sons; of these two, one who is endowed with manliness (mánushopetah), shall have half the special share usually given to the eldest.

3.6.12

tayor mānuṣopeto jyeṣṭhāṃśād ardhaṃ labheta //

3.6.13

nānāstrīputrāṇāṃ tu saṃskṛtāsaṃskṛtayoḥ kanyākṛtakṣatayor abhāve ca ekasyāḥ putrayor yamayor vā pūrvajanmanā jyeṣṭhabhāvaḥ //

With regard to sons of many wives:--

Of sons of two wives of whom only one woman has gone through all the necessary religious ceremonials, or both of whom have not, as maidens, observed necessary religious rites, or one of whom has brought forth twins, it is by birth that primogenitureship is decided.

3.6.14

sūtamāgadhavrātyarathakārāṇām aiśvaryato vibhāgaḥ //

Shares in inheritance for such sons as Súta, Mágadha, Vrátya and Rathakára shall depend on the abundance of paternal property; the rest, i.e., sons other than Súta, etc., of inferior birth, shall be dependent on the eldest for their subsistence. Dependent sons shall have equal divisions.

3.6.15

śeṣās tam upajīveyuḥ //

3.6.16

anīśvarāḥ samavibhāgāḥ //

3.6.17

cāturvarṇyaputrāṇāṃ brāhmaṇīputraś caturo 'ṃśān haret, kṣatriyāputrastrīn aṃśān, vaiśyāputro dvāv aṃśau, ekaṃ śūdrāputraḥ //

Of sons begotten by a Bráhman in the four castes, the son of a Bráhman woman shall take four shares; the son of a Kshatriya woman three shares; the son of a Vaisya woman two shares, and the son of a Súdra woman one share.

3.6.18

tena trivarṇadvivarṇaputravibhāgaḥ kṣatriyavaiśyayor vyākhyātaḥ //

The same rule shall hold good in the case of Kshatriya and Vaisya fathers begetting sons in three or two castes in order.

3.6.19

brāhmaṇasyānantarāputras tulyāṃśaḥ //

An Anantara son of a Bráhman, i.e. a son begotten by a Bráhman on a woman of next lower caste, shall, if endowed with manly or superior qualities (mánushopetah), take an equal share (with other sons of inferior qualities); similarly Anantara sons of Kshatriya or Vaisya fathers shall if endowed with manly or superior qualities, take half or equal shares (with others). An only son to two mothers of different castes shall take possession of the whole property and maintain the relatives of his father. A Palrasava son begotten by a Bráhman on a Súdra woman, shall take 1/3rd share; a sapinda, (an agnate) or a kulya (the nearest cognate), of the Bráhman shall take the remaining two shares, being thereby obliged to offer funeral libation; in the absence of agnates or cognates, the deceased father's teacher or student shall take the two shares.

3.6.20

kṣatriyavaiśyayor ardhāṃśaḥ tulyāṃśo vā mānuṣopetaḥ //

3.6.21

tulyātulyayor ekaputraḥ sarvaṃ haret, bandhūṃś ca bibhṛyāt //

3.6.22

brāhmaṇānāṃ tu pāraśavas tṛtīyam aṃśaṃ labheta, dvāv aṃśau sapiṇḍaḥ kulyo vāsannaḥ, svadhādānahetoḥ //

3.6.23

tadabhāve pitur ācāryo 'ntevāsī vā //

3.6.24

kṣetre vā janayed asya niyuktaḥ kṣetrajaṃ sutam /
mātṛbandhuḥ sagotro vā tasmai tat pradiśed dhanam //E

Or on the wife of such a Bráhman shall a sagotra, relative bearing the same family name, or a (mátribandha) relative of his mother, beget a natural son (kshetraja), and this son may take that wealth.