Shloka 14
Varṇasaṃkara: Causes, Classifications, and Conduct-based Recognition (वर्णसंकरः—हेतु-जाति-आचारनिर्णयः)
अन्यत्र जामया सार्ध प्रजानां पुत्र ईहते । दुहितान्यत्र जातेन पुत्रेणापि विशिष्यते
anyatra jāmayā sārdhaṁ prajānāṁ putra īhate | duhitānyatra jātena putreṇāpi viśiṣyate ||
ビーシュマは説いた。「ふつう家の継承のために求められるのは息子である。だが例外の状況では、娘—とりわけ息子の務めを果たす者として認められた娘—が、権利と位において優越すると見なされうる。たとえ後に息子が生まれても、その娘は彼とともに共同相続人である。さらに、養子の息子と比べるなら、実の娘こそ父の家産に対してより高い権利と尊厳を有するとされる。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma states that while a son is generally sought for lineage, there are exceptions where a daughter—especially one accepted as fulfilling the son’s role—can share or even take precedence in inheritance, and a biological daughter can be regarded as superior to an adopted son in claim.
In the Anushasana Parva’s dharma-instruction setting, Bhishma is laying down nuanced rules about heirs and succession, clarifying exceptional cases involving a daughter treated as a son and comparisons between a natural daughter and an adopted son.