History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.1145

v4.c63.1145

That wealth is said to be the gains of *vidyā* which is acquired by means of learning received from another while subsisting on food furnished by others, when a matter (a doubt or difficult point) has been placed (before an assembly of learned men) with a wager, whatever is gained by (the display of) one's learning is known as *vidyādhana*, which is not divided at a partition. What is acquired from a pupil (i. e. by following the profession of teaching), by performing the work of a priest at a sacrifice, by propounding a question, by solving a doubtful point, by exhibiting one's knowledge, by disputation with a rival, what is gained by deep learning-all these are declared to be *vidyādhana*, which is not divided at a partition. The same is the rule in the case of artisans and as to whatever is obtained (as a reward) over and above the proper price of an article (which surplus becomes the self-acquisition of the member selling it). After vanquishing a rival in a wager whatever is obtained by (superior) knowledge should be known as vidyādhana and it is not liable to be partitioned. This is the view of Bṛhaspati. What is earned by an assertion of one's learning, what is obtained from a pupil (i. e. by teaching) and what is acquired on the analogy of priests officiating at a sacrifice-all these are known as vidyādhana, according to Bhṛgu. What is obtained by the superiority of one's learning and from a sacrificer and from a pupil-all this is declared to be vidyādhana; acquisitions other than these are common (i. e. jointly owned) with others.