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 ||
Ipinaliwanag ni Bhishma: “Karaniwan, ang anak na lalaki ang hinahangad upang magpatuloy ang angkan. Ngunit sa ilang natatanging kalagayan, ang anak na babae—lalo na yaong kinilalang gumanap sa tungkulin ng anak na lalaki—ay maaaring ituring na higit sa karapatan at katayuan. Kahit may isilang pang anak na lalaki, ang anak na babaeng kinilalang ‘anak na lalaki’ ay nananatiling kasamang tagapagmana niya. Gayundin, kung ang kahalili ay anak na ampon, ang sariling anak na babae ay itinuturing na may mas mataas na karapatan at dangal sa ari-arian ng ama.”
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.