Twelve categories of children

“O Dharmaja!

1. a child born to a duly and validly married man and woman, in his own caste, is called Ourasa. He is the elder son and Kartha of the family.
2. If anybody is issueless, he can adopt the son of his daughter (douhitra) with the permission of his son in law and daughter. Such adopted son shall have all rights over the property as a natural son.
3. If any married couple has no issues, the wife, with the permission of her husband, may have sexual intercourse with another virtuous man and beget children. Such children are called Kshetraja and they are also regarded as the natural sons of that married couple. The husband shall treat them as his own sons.
4. If any parents gives away their son by pouring water into other’s hands, it is called adoption and he is called Datrima. He is also called Dattaka. (adopted son).
5. If any man or woman adopts orphans and treats them as his/her own sons, they are called Kritrimas.
6. If any man begets children through another married woman, other than his wife, he is called Goodhaja. Those children are regarded as the natural sons of her original husband.
7. If any parents, unable to feed their own children, leave them to their fate, and if such children are brought up by another man and woman, those children are called Apaviddha.
8. If an unmarried girl gives birth to a child, such child is called Kaaneena. After her marriage, that child is considered to be the legitimate son of her legally wedded husband.
9. If a girl is pregnant by the time of her marriage, and the child born after marriage is called Sahodha. The man who marries that pregnant girl, even without the knowledge of her pregnancy at the time of marriage, shall regard that child as his own legitimate child.
10. A woman who deserted her husband and a woman who was deserted by her husband, gives birth to a child, he is called Pounarbhava. The person who caused the pregnancy shall be the legitimate father of that child.
11. An orphan (child without parents) gives himself in adoption to others, he is called Svayam Datta.
12. If any parents sell their child to others for money, that child is called Kreeta.

O Dharmaja! these twelve categories of children are legitimate in character.