Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c8.138

c8.138

Besides gold land was very much coveted by the Brahmans. Already Vi. 3, 81 f. advises the king to present land to the Brahmans and to have a deed of gift prepared on a piece of cotton cloth or copper plates for the attestation of the gift and for the purpose of informing the future rulers of the gift; it should contain the name and the family tree of the donor, a description of the gift and a reference to the meritoriousness of the gift and the sin of every encroachment on the same. Later Smṛtis have very detailed rules for the preparation of these deeds (§ 35).