The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c14.s2.22

c14.s2.22

¹ अदाधिकं रोजगामि योषिद्भृत्योर्ध्वदेहिकम् । अप्रास्य श्रोत्रियद्रव्यं श्रोत्रियेभ्यस्तदर्पयेत् ॥ Quoted by Vijñāneśvara at Yāj., II, 136. Kātyāyana and Bṛihaspati exist only in quotations and we often come across verses attributing contradictory views to them. Thus Vijñāneśvara at the above place also attributes the following verse to Kātyāyana, which clearly supports the widow’s right:— पत्नी पत्युर्धनहरी या स्यादव्यभिचारिणी । तदभावे तु दुहिता यद्यनूढा भवेत्तदा ॥ Similarly Devaṇabhaṭṭa ascribes a verse to Bṛihaspati, which concedes only a partial right of inheritance to the widow. See below p. 305 n. 2. It would appear that these books were not very carefully preserved and interpolations were often made in them by interested parties to support their own views.