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 ||
भीष्मांनी स्पष्ट केले—साधारणतः वंशपरंपरेसाठी पुत्राचीच अपेक्षा असते; पण काही अपवादांत, जेव्हा कन्येला पुत्ररूपाने स्वीकारले जाते, तेव्हा ती अधिकार व मानमरातबात श्रेष्ठ मानली जाते. नंतर पुत्र झाला तरी तो त्या कन्येसहच पितृधनाचा सह-अधिकारी ठरतो. आणि दत्तक पुत्राच्या तुलनेत स्वतःची सगी कन्या अधिक श्रेष्ठ मानली जाते.
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.