Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

6

IX.

90. Three years let a damsel wait, though she be CHAP. marriageable; but, after that term, let her chuse 'for herself a bridegroom of equal rank:

[ocr errors]

6

91. If, not being given in marriage, she chuse her
bridegroom, neither she, nor the
she, nor the youth chosen,
commits any offence;

92. But a damsel, thus electing her husband, shall
6 not carry
carry with her the ornaments, which she re-
'ceived from her father, nor those given by her
'mother or brethren: if she carry them away, she
'commits theft.

93. He, who takes to wife a damsel of full age, 'shall not give a nuptial present to her father; since the father lost his dominion over her, by detaining her at a time, when she might have been a parent. 94. A man, aged thirty years, may marry a girl of twelve, if he find one dear to his heart; or a man ' of twenty-four years, a damsel of eight; but, if he finish his studentship earlier, and the duties of his

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

'next order would otherwise be impeded, let him

[ocr errors][merged small]

95. A wife, given by the gods, who are named in the bridal texts, let the husband receive and support constantly, if she be virtuous, though he married her not from inclination: such conduct will please the gods.

6

96. To be mothers, were women created; and to 'be fathers, men; religious rites, therefore are ordained

CHAP.
IX.

in the Véda to be performed by the husband together with the wife.

[ocr errors]

97. IF a nuptial gratuity has actually been given 'to a damsel, and he, who gave it, should die before marriage, the damsel shall be married to his brother, if she consent;

98. But even " a man of the servile class ought 'not to receive a gratuity, when he gives his daughter in marriage; since a father, who takes a fee on that 'occasion, tacitly sells his daughter.

[merged small][ocr errors]

99. Neither ancients nor moderns, who were good

men, have ever given a damsel in marriage, after she had been promised to another man ;

100. Nor, even in former creations, have we heard the virtuous approve the tacit sale of a daughter for a price, under the name of a nuptial gratuity.

[ocr errors]

101. "Let mutual fidelity continue to death:" this, "in few words, may be considered as the law between husband and wife.

supreme

102. Let a man and woman, united by marriage, constantly beware, lest, at any time disunited, they 'violate their mutual fidelity.

[ocr errors]

103. Thus has been declared to you the law, abounding in the purest affection, for the conduct

' of man and wife; together with the practice of raising up offspring to a husband of the servile class on

'failure

'failure of issue by him begotten: learn now the law CHAP. of inheritance.

104. AFTER the death of the father and the mother, the brothers being assembled, may divide among 'themselves the paternal and maternal estate; but they have no power over it, while their parents live, ' unless the father chuse to distribute it.

[ocr errors]

6

[ocr errors]

6

6

105. The eldest brother may take entire possession of the patrimony; and the others may live under him, as they lived under their father, unless they chuse to be separated.

[ocr errors]

106. By the eldest, at the moment of his birth, the father, having begotten a son, discharges his 'debt to his own progenitors; the eldest son, therefore, ought before partition to manage the whole patrimony:

107. That •

son alone, by whose birth he discharges his debt, and through whom he attains immortality, was begotten from a sense of duty: all the rest are considered by the wise as begotten from love of pleasure.

108. Let the father alone support his sons; and 'the first-born, his younger brothers; and let them 'behave to the eldest, according to law, as children should behave to their father.

109.

The first-born, if virtuous, exalts the family, or, if vitious, destroys it: the first-born is in this

IX.

[ocr errors][merged small]

CHAP.

IX.

'world the most respectable; and the good never treat him with disdain.

6

110. If an elder brother act, as an elder brother ought, he is to be revered as a mother, as a father;

' and, even if he have not the behaviour of a good ' elder brother, he should be respected as a maternal uncle, or other kinsman.

[ocr errors]

111.

Either let them thus live together, or, if they ' desire separately to perform religious rites, let them live apart; since religious duties are multiplied in separate houses, their separation is, therefore, legal and even laudable.

112. The portion deducted for the eldest is a twen'tieth part of the heritage, with the best of all the 'chattels; for the middlemost, half of that, or a fortieth; for the youngest, a quarter of it, or an eightieth.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

113. The eldest and youngest respectively take their 'just mentioned portions; and, if there be more than one between them, each of the intermediate sons has the mean portion, or the fortieth.

6

[ocr errors]

6

114. Of all the goods collected let the first-born, if he be transcendently learned and virtuous, take the 'best article, whatever is most excellent in its kind, and the best of ten cows or the like:

[ocr errors]

115. But among brothers equally skilled in per'forming their several duties, there is no deduction of the best in ten, or the or the most excellent chattel;

[ocr errors][merged small]

<

[ocr errors]

though some trifle, as a mark of greater veneration, CHAP. 'should be given to the first-born.

116. If a deduction be thus made, let equal shares

' of the residue be ascertained and received; but, if there be no deduction, the shares must be distri'buted in this manner :

[ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

6

6

117. Let the eldest have a double share, and the next-born, a share and a half, if they clearly surpass the rest in virtue and learning; the younger sons must have each a share: if all be equal in good qualities, they must all take share and share alike.

118.

[ocr errors]

To the unmarried daughters by the same mother, let their brothers give portions out of their own allotments respectively, according to the classes

of their several mothers: let each give a fourth part

' of his own distinct share; and they, who refuse to

[ocr errors]

6

6

give it, shall be degraded.

[ocr errors]

119. Let them never divide the value of a single
goat or sheep, or a single beast with uncloven
hoofs: a single
a single goat or sheep remaining after an
equal distribution, belongs to the first-born.

120. Should a younger brother, in the manner before mentioned, have begotten a son on the wife of • his deceased elder brother, the division must then be

'made equally between that son, who represents the de

[ocr errors]

ceased, and his natural father: thus is the law 6 settled.

[blocks in formation]

IX.

« AnteriorContinuar »