Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, section 3 on definitions defines Sapinda in sub-section (f); as mentioned below: (i) “Sapinda relationship” with reference to any person extends as far as the third generation (inclusive) in the line of ascent through the mother, and the fifth (inclusive) in the line of ascent through the father, the line being traced upward in each case from the person concerned, who is to be counted as the first generation; (ii) two persons are said to be “sapindas” of each other if one is a lineal ascendant of the other within the limits of sapinda relationship, or if they have a common lineal ascendant who is within the limits of sapinda relationship with reference to each of them; However,
Manu Smriti explains "Sapinda" in Adhyay: 5, Mantra: 60, which states, सपिण्डता तु पुरुषे सप्तमे विनिवर्तते। समानोदकभावस्तु जन्मनाम्नोरवेदने॥ This has been explained as Sapinda relationship ends at seventh generation and absence of knowledge of birth and name of
lineal descendant of seventh generation cannot be considered as Sapinda. Therefore, Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 restricts definition of Sapinda only up to third generation of mother and fifth generation of father, which is a more practical approach, as knowledge up to third generation of bride and fifth generation of bridegroom can be easily ascertainable. ==Example==