Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c9.s4.14

c9.s4.14

The concept of *putrikā* — the only daughter of a man having no son is unique in this tradition. The *putrikā* is allowed to perform the last rites of her father and also to inherit his property. “Just as a son is the very soul of a man, so is the daughter” says Manu in the context of a *putrikā* — “how can any other person be allowed to take away a man’s property if she is there?”⁴⁵ Most of the authors of Dharmaśāstras agree that the woman’s property (*strīdhana*) will be inherited by the daughter/daughters only and not by her sons.⁴⁶