Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c7.663

c7.663

At all events concubinage was common and particularly the plural term *striyaḥ* signifies not only the legitimate wives but also the concubines of an individual. Thus according to Nār. 13, 26 the charge of the maintenance of the women (*striyaḥ*) of a deceased person should devolve on his brothers who inherit his property and according to Nār. 52 and Bṛh. 25, 68 the king has to supply necessary maintenance to such women if the property of the deceased, on failure of a proper heir, reverts to him. According to Gaut. 28, 47, at the time of partition, the women connected with one of the coparceners should not be divided. Intercourse with concubines (*dāsī, bhujiṣyā*) of another man is regarded as adultery (Nār. 12, 79; Y. 2, 290).