History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c73.t1.519.2

v5.c73.t1.519.2

132 sets out another method since it says that a putrikāputra inherits the entire wealth of his own father if he is sonless and he gives two piṇḍas (i. e. performs two śrāddhas) for his own father and for his maternal grandfather. The Śāṅ. Śr. S. provides¹²⁰⁸ that if there be two fathers, the son should recite the names of both (*bījin* and *kṣetrin*) with reference to the same piṇḍa. Even Yāj. says 'The son procreated according to the rules of *niyoga* by a sonless man on the wife of another inherits the wealth of both and offers piṇḍa to both.'¹²⁰⁹ The Mit. adds that if a person appointed to procreate a son on another's wife has a son, then the son so begotten becomes the son of the kṣetrīn alone and not of the bījin. As the kṣetraja and putrikāputra have become obsolete for several centuries the subject has only an academic interest now. But the *dattaka* is still in vogue and a few words must be said here about the persons to whom the dattaka offers piṇḍas. The Kalpataru quotes from the Pravarādhyāya a passage on this point which is as follows:¹²¹⁰ 'If these (i. e. those who are bījin) have no issue born of their own wives, (the sons begotten by *niyoga* or given in adoption) should inherit their wealth and offer pindas to them up to three ancestors;