Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c13.291

c13.291

The laws of inheritance continue to have the provision of giving the smallest share to the śūdra son⁵ of a higher caste person. Viṣṇu fixes the share of the śūdra son of a brāhmaṇa in various circumstances,⁶ and lays down the liberal rule that, if the twice-born father has a śūdra son, he can inherit one half of his property.⁷ But Bṛhaspati repeats the old view that even an excellent and obedient śūdra son of a man having no other male issue shall receive only a maintenance.⁸ It is said that the son of the twice-born from a śūdra woman is not entitled to a share in landed property.⁹ But at one place the Anuśāsana Parvan emphasises that the śūdra son must receive property,¹⁰ a provision which is generally corroborated by the law-books of this period.