DharmasthiyaAdhyaya 6

Adhyaya 6

Inheritance is engineered as state security: standardized shares and fallback heirs make the court the final allocator, preventing family property from becoming rebellion fuel or lost revenue. Succession disputes are framed as threats to production, revenue, and internal peace (Vijigīṣu logic). Edge cases are resolved by ranking entitlements among heirs of equal and unequal status. Substitute routes apply when direct heirs are absent (kindred; teacher/pupil). Regulated procreation appointment is permitted to create a kṣetraja son, preserving continuity of lineage–property obligations. Enforcement shifts from lineage coercion to adjudication plus registration, keeping assets legible for exactions and duties. Dependents’ maintenance and household obligations are ensured through orderly transfer.

Sutras

Sutra 1

कामाचारः सर्वं जीयेत ॥ कZ_०३.६.१० ॥

A son born of a ‘union by mutual desire’ (kāmācāra) shall inherit the whole estate.

Sutra 2

तेन मध्यमकनिष्ठौ व्याख्यातौ ॥ कZ_०३.६.११ ॥

By that principle, the “middle” and “junior” (sons/heirs) are also explained, i.e., their status is to be determined analogously.

Sutra 3

तयोर्मानुषोपेतो ज्येष्ठांशादर्धं लभेत ॥ कZ_०३.६.१२ ॥

Of those two, the one established by human agency/acknowledgment (mānuṣopeta) shall receive half of the eldest son’s share.

Sutra 4

नानास्त्रीपुत्राणां तु संस्कृतासंस्कृतयोः कन्याकृतक्षतयोरभावे च एकस्याः पुत्रयोर्यमयोर्वा पूर्वजन्मना ज्येष्ठभावः ॥ कZ_०३.६.१३ ॥

For sons born of different women: when there is no differentiator such as “consecrated/unconsecrated” status or other distinguishing marks (e.g., in the case of a maiden where defloration/first intercourse serves as a marker), and when two sons of the same mother are twins, seniority (jyeṣṭhatva) is determined by prior birth (who was born first).

Sutra 5

सूतमागधव्रात्यरथकाराणामैश्वर्यतो विभागः ॥ कZ_०३.६.१४ ॥

For sūta, māgadha, vrātya, and rathakāra groups, division (of inheritance) is according to aiśvarya (their standing/capacity/means).

Sutra 6

शेषास्तमुपजीवेयुः ॥ कZ_०३.६.१५ ॥

The remaining members shall live by him (be maintained under/at his expense).

Sutra 7

अनीश्वराः समविभागाः ॥ कZ_०३.६.१६ ॥

Those without headship/means (anīśvara) shall have equal division.

Sutra 8

चातुर्वर्ण्यपुत्राणां ब्राह्मणीपुत्रश्चतुरोऽंशान् हरेत्क्षत्रियापुत्रस्त्रीनंशान्वैश्यापुत्रो द्वावंशौ एकं शूद्रापुत्रः ॥ कZ_०३.६.१७ ॥

Among sons (classified) by the four varṇas: the brāhmaṇī’s son shall take four parts; the kṣatriyā’s son three parts; the vaiśyā’s son two parts; the śūdrā’s son one part.

Sutra 9

तेन त्रिवर्णद्विवर्णपुत्रविभागः क्षत्रियवैश्ययोर्व्याख्यातः ॥ कZ_०३.६.१८ ॥

By that same rule, the division among sons in three-varṇa and two-varṇa combinations is explained for the kṣatriya and vaiśya cases as well.

Sutra 10

ब्राह्मणस्यानन्तरापुत्रस्तुल्यांशः ॥ कZ_०३.६.१९ ॥

For a brāhmaṇa, the ‘anantarā’ son receives an equal share (tulyāṃśa).

Sutra 11

क्षत्रियवैश्ययोरर्धांशः तुल्यांशो वा मानुषोपेतः ॥ कZ_०३.६.२० ॥

Sutra 12

तुल्यातुल्ययोरेकपुत्रः सर्वं हरेत्बन्धूंश्च बिभृयात् ॥ कZ_०३.६.२१ ॥

Sutra 13

ब्राह्मणानां तु पारशवस्तृतीयमंशं लभेत द्वावंशौ सपिण्डः कुल्यो वासन्नः स्वधादानहेतोः ॥ कZ_०३.६.२२ ॥

Sutra 14

तदभावे पितुराचार्योऽन्तेवासी वा ॥ कZ_०३.६.२३ ॥

Sutra 15

क्षेत्रे वा जनयेदस्य नियुक्तः क्षेत्रजं सुतम् ॥ कZ_०३.६.२४अब् ॥

Sutra 16

मातृबन्धुः सगोत्रो वा तस्मै तत्प्रदिशेद्धनम् ॥ कZ_०३.६.२४च्द् ॥

Sutra 17

एकस्त्रीपुत्राणां ज्येष्ठांशः ब्राह्मणानामजाः क्षत्रियाणामश्वाः वैश्यानां गावः शूद्राणामवयः ॥ कZ_०३.६.०१ ॥