His property divided amongst them at his death.
“Now the eldest (or best) alone may take the paternal property [pg 098] without leaving anything, and the remaining (brothers) may live supported by him just as (if he were their) father.”[230]
But special respect shown to the eldest son.
Likewise: “If among brothers born of one father, one should have a son, Manu said all those brothers would be possessed of sons by means of that son.”[231] But this seems to apply only to the son born to the eldest, for if a younger brother married before the eldest and performed the daily sacrifices, he sent himself, his brother, and his wife “to Hell.”[232]
The eldest, if he performs his duty, “causes the family to flourish” and “is most honoured among men.” He alone is “duty-born,” through him his father “pays his debt”; other sons are only “born of desire.” As long as his conduct is befitting, he must be honoured “like a father, like a mother,” but if not, he only receives the respect of an ordinary relative.[233]
The brothers may live together in this way,[234] but if they divide and live apart, the separate ceremonies necessitated by their separate households will multiply the performance of religious duties, to the advantage of all.
The duties of the householder.
The title of Householder, moreover, was more than a name.
“As all beings depend on air, so all orders depend on the householder.”
“Because men of the three (other) orders are daily supported by the householder alone with knowledge and with food, therefore [pg 099] the householder (is) the chief order. That order must be upheld strenuously by one desiring an imperishable heaven, and who here desires perpetual happiness....”