Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s4.284

v1.c3.s4.284

¹⁹ It is significant that in the famous episode (Taittirīya Saṃhitā, iii. 1, 9, 4) of Manu’s division of his property, from which Nābhānediṣṭha was excluded, this exclusion is made good by the son’s obtaining cattle (paśavaḥ). It is clear that cattle, not land, was the real foundation of wealth, just as in Ireland, Italy (cf. pecunia), Greece, etc. Cattle could be, and were, used individually, but land was not open to a man’s free disposal; no doubt, at any rate, the consent of the family or the community might be required, but we are reduced to reliance on analogy in view of the silence of the texts. Cf. Schrader, Prehistoric Antiquities, 289; Jolly, Recht und Sitte, 94-96; Rhys Davids, Buddhist India, 48 et seq.