Manava Dharmashastra 3.190

3.190

ete tu mukhyā gaṇāḥ somapādayaḥ pitṝṇām | teṣāmapi putrapautrāḥ anantā vidyante | te'pi pitara eva | asmādvā'niyamavacanādetadgamyate na somapādya uddeśyāḥ | yadi hi teṣāmapi putrapautrāḥ 'pitaraḥ' te hyuddeśyāḥ syuḥ, na ca teṣāṃ kiṃcinnāmadheyamāmnātam | tasmādarthavādataivāvasīyate | gavāśvaprabhṛtitvātputrapautramityekavadbhāvaḥ | anantakamaparimitam | svārthe kaḥ |

Of the principal bodies of Pitṛs that have been described, know that there are endless sons and grandsons in this world.—(200)

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
The ‘Somapā,’ and the rest, are the ‘principal bodies of Pitṛs.’ Of these there are endless sons and grandsons; and these latter also are Pitṛs.

The mention;of this indefinite number indicates that the offerings are not to be made in reference to the Somapa andothers; for, if the sons and grandsons of these were ‘Pitṛs’ then, as Pitṛs, these sons and grandsons also may have the offerings made in reference to them; and yet no names of these have been mentioned; whence it is clear that all this is merely laudatory description.

The singular number in ‘putrapautrakam’ is in accordance with Pāṇini 2.4.10.

‘Endless’—unlimited; the ‘ka’ having the reflexive sense.—(200)