Manava Dharmashastra 4.253

4.253

ardhasīrī ārdhikaḥ kuṭumbī bhūmikarṣaka iti ya ucyate | gopāladāsau sambandhiśabdau | yo yasya gāḥ pālayati sa tasya bhojyānnaḥ | yaścātmānaṃ nivedayet | ahaṃ tvaccharaṇaḥ tvayi viśrabdho vatsyāmītyevaṃ ya śrātmānamarpayati so'pi bhojyānnaḥ |

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
‘Ardhika,’ ‘Ploughman,’ is the man who ploughs his family-holdings for him.

‘Cowherd and slave’—arc terms denoting relationship. One may eat food of that person who keeps his cows for him.

‘He who offers himself;’—saying, ‘you are my sole refuge; I live solely dependent upon you’—one who offers oneself in this manner, is also one whose food may be eaten.—(253).