History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.460

v4.c63.t2.460

The illegitimate son born of a śūdra concubine to a man of the three higher castes appears to have been held entitled to maintenance from very early times. Gaut. 28. 37 provides, 'the son from a śūdra woman of a man (of the three higher varṇas) who is without issue receives maintenance (lit. source of maintenance), if he is obedient, in the same way as a pupil might receive'. And Gautama (28. 43) extends the same rule to the offspring of *pratiloma* unions. Vide p. 601 above and note 1135 for the text of Gaut. and Bṛ. on the point. Manu IX.