[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930) › v1.c6.s2.1.3 # History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v1.c6.s2.1.3 History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v1.c6.s2.1.3 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c6.s2.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v1.c6.s2.1.3) The story of Śunaḥśepa in the Aitareya-brāhmaṇa (VII. 3) suggests that a son could be adopted even when there was an \*aurasa\* son. The Taittirīya-saṁhitā (VII. 1. 8. 1) tells the story of Atri who gave an only son in adoption to Aurva. The Kṣetraja son of the Dharma-sūtras is often referred to in the earliest Vedic literature. ‘What (sacrificer) invites you (Aśvins) in his house to a bed as a widow does a brother-in-law or a young damsel her lover’³². The Taittirī-yasaṁhitā makes it clear that a father could distribute his wealth among his sons during his own life time ‘Manu divided his property among his sons’ &c.³³ Another passage of the same \*Saṁhitā\* seems to suggest that the eldest son took the whole of the father’s wealth ‘therefore people establish their eldest son with wealth’³⁴. Even in the Vedic ages the son excluded the daughter from inheritance ‘a son born of the body does not give the paternal wealth to (his) sister’³⁵. A passage of the Taittirīya-saṁhitā is relied upon by ancient and modern writers on \*dharmaśāstra\* for the exclusion of women in general from inheritance ‘therefore women being destitute of strength take no portion and speak more weakly than even a low person’³⁶. The Ṛgveda eulogises the stage of studenthood and the Śatapathabrāhmaṇa speaks of the duties of the Brahmacārin such as not partaking of wine and offering every evening a \*samidh\* to fire³⁷. The Taittirīya-saṁhitā (VI. 2. 8. - [Previous: v1.c6.s2.1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v1.c6.s2.1.2) - [Next: v1.c6.s2.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v1.c6.s2.1.4) - [Up: v1.c6.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v1.c6.s2.1) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v1.c6.s2.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v1.c6.s2.1.3) · Pramāṇa