History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.103

v4.c63.t2.103

The Mit. after an elaborate statement and refutation of the views of Śrīkara, Dhāreśvara and others due to the conflict among smṛti texts on the question of the widow's right of succession, establishes the proposition that the widow, if chaste, is entitled to the whole of her deceased sonless husband's wealth.¹³⁵⁰ Almost all writers since the time of the Mit. accept the widow's right to succeed to her husband's wealth. Many writers note that the smṛti texts on the heirship of the widow are in conflict.¹³⁵¹ They explain verses like those of Nār. (dāyabhāga 25-26) providing only maintenance for women either as referring to exclusively kept concubines of the deceased or to the wives of re-united coparceners.