Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c7.817

c7.817

After the sons come the sons of the sons and after them their sons; the three descendants and the three ascendants along with the testator form the close body of Sapiṇḍa relatives (Baudh. 1,11,9; M. 9,137,186 f. etc.) which illustrates the connection of the funeral ceremony with the law of inheritance. Yet however the word Sapiṇḍa also often signifies all the agnates (such as in Vas. 17,81; Āp. 2,14,2) and the same is the case more or less also with the other expressions by which distant relations and members of the family entitled to inheritance are designated, such as Sakulya, Sagotra, Gotraja, Bandhu, Bāndhava, Jñāti etc. (M. 9,187; Baudh. 1,11, 12; Gaut. 28, 21; Vi. 17, 10 f.; Y. 2, 135; Nār. 13, 51; Bṛh. 25,59,62 etc.). Near relations exclude the more distant ones (M. 9,187; Āp. 2,14,2). For that reason not infrequently, the father or the two parents or the brothers are mentioned at the top of the agnates (M. 9, 185; Vi. 17, 6 ff.; Y. 2, 135; Bṛh. 25, 67, 63 etc.).