History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t1.136

v4.c63.t1.136

It has been shown above (pp. 641,657) how even in the times of the Ṛgveda the son of the body was eagerly sought for and how the adoption of another man's son was declared to be not worthy of being thought of. Even so late an author as Śukra (II. 31) says that the adopted and other secondary sons should never be thought as one's sons, since on seeing a rich man they desire to be adopted1252a. Yet Vedic Literature contains some references to adopted sons. In the Tai. S. VII. 1. 8. 1 we come across the the story of Atri,1252b who gave an only son in adoption to Aurva in these words: 'Atri gave his son in adoption to Aurva who desired to have a son. He (Atri), having become empty (as it were, by giving away his only son), thought himself to be destitute of strength, to be weak and worn out (lit. stale). He (Atri) saw this *catūrātra* (a sacrifice of that name lasting for four days). He made preparations for it and performed that sacrifice. Then he had four valiant sons born to him, a good Hotṛ, a good Udgātṛ, a good Adhvaryu and a good *sabheya* (skilful speaker in an assembly)'. The story of Śunaḥśepa in the Ait. Br. (33) shows that Viśvāmitra, though he had already one hundred and one sons, adopted Śunaḥśepa under the name Devarāta, with the consent of his fifty-one sons (with Madhucchandas¹²⁵³ at their head), though the elder 50 sons disobeyed their father. It must be supposed that the later rule allowing only a sonless man to adopt did not apply to Viśvāmitra.