VYA WASTHA-DARPAN A. 834 raditi, considering the prolonging of lineage to be the principal cause of adoption, has laid down that it is necessary to adopt a son, notwithstanding there be a brother's son to present the oblation of food, libation of water, and perform the solemn rites.” This dictum of his appears to be very just inasmuch as even the presentation of the oblation of food and libation of water r . T وعة would cease without the celebrity of name, that is, continuance of the lineage, which therefore is the principal cause of adoption. Thus a son is adopted not only for the sake of the funeral cake, water, and solemn rites, but also for prolonging the lineage, which all collectively, not singly, constitute the cause of adoption. 485. The substitute for a son is necessary, notwithstanding a widow's capacity to present the oblation of food and libation of water to the inanes of her husband. Since her presentation of the oblation of food and libation of water to her deceased husband alone does not obviate the necessity of having a son, who is adopted chiefly to perform the párpana Srillha, to deliver the adopter from the holl called ‘piss," and to prolong his lineage, which are beyond the capacity of a widow. “On failure of the son, let the wife be,” &c. t Although by this and other passages, the capacity of the wife, and other (heirs) also, to perform the obsequies, is declared : still it must be unquestionably affirmed, that from the authority of Kueh passages as this (“Heaven awaits not one destitute of a son, )” the mansions of the happy attainable by obsequies performed by a son, are not acquired by such rites performed by the wife and the rest. For, other. wise, the wife and other heirs, of one destitute of male issue, being competent to perform rites, which would be equally effective, the specification, of failure of the son,) would be unmeaning ; as an alternative results, from such equality.—Hence, for the acquisition of some particular heaven, to be obtained by obsequies performed by a son, the substitute for a son is indispensable.—I), Mim. Sect, I, § 58,59.
- If, among several brothers of the whole blood, one have a son born, Munn pronounces them all fathers of a male child by means of that son.” "Let the nephew of a paternal uncle, destitute of male issue, be his son: he only should perform his obsoluies of the funeral repast, and oblations of food and water.” $—“Those who are fathers of male issue, by means of their own sons, and those of brothers, are completely 8aved.” T
Although, in the texts cited, a brother's son is considered to be a son of his uncle, yet the
- See D. Ch. Sect. I, § 26. * Sankha. The sequel is thus, “( brother. " D. Mi‘m. Seet. 1. § 58, note.
- Manu. Chap. IX. p. i82. § Vrikat Parāsara. See D. Mim. Sect. II, § 53. W Káliká purána, See, D. Mi‘m. Seet. II. § 45
the performer of the funeral ritos, ) on her default, the whole {{eason. Authority
