[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v2.c4.s8.937 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s8.937 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s8.937 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c4.s8.937](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s8.937) Śvaśura from the Rigveda onwards¹ denotes the ‘father-in-law’ of the wife; not till the Sūtra period does it include the ‘father-in-law’ of the husband.² The daughter-in-law (Snuṣā), in the normal case when the father-in-law was the head of the family to which her husband belonged in fact as well as in age, was bound to pay him all respect.³ When the old man had ceased to exercise control, she became mistress (samrājñī) over him and his wife.⁴ In the plural⁵ the word denotes the ‘parents-in-law.’ - [Previous: v2.c4.s8.936](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s8.936) - [Next: v2.c4.s8.938](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s8.938) - [Up: v2.c4.s8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s8.937](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v2.c4.s8.937) · Pramāṇa