Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c6.118

v1.c6.118

the son of the “ re-married woman ” in the second list of the Mahābh. has been eliminated, so here he may also have dropped out, and thus we should have the other five, as taught by Manu. Yet this rendering, which in itself is the most natural one, is not without an element of strain ; therefore the çloka is perhaps better understood thus : “ Those that came into being from a man’s own wife (and) the five (kinds of) sons that have been acquired (that is, given), bought, reared, ‘ made,’ and born of other women.” That would then give twelve kinds, if Manu and Mahābh., xiv, 49 are brought in to explain, but fourteen if MBh., i, 120.32-34 is so brought in. K. has instead (i, 99.25-26) : “ Those sprung from a man’s own wife, those acquired, made, brought up under an agreement (samayavardhita), bought, and sprung from maidens—these Manu has declared to be sons. These are the six who are kinsmen and heirs (and) the six who are kinsmen, but not heirs.” 1