No Inheritance For Women

The impact of other religions, such as Islam, has prompted certain Hindu revivalists to advocate for the reform of Hindu society. However, Hindu scholars have faced challenges in presenting a Hindu text that unequivocally supports a woman’s right to inherit her father’s property. It is mentioned in Vedas, This article examines the topic of inheritance rights for women in Hindu scriptures, including references from Vedas, Dharmasutras, and Smritis. It explores how ancient texts describe property rights, family structure, and the role of women in inheritance systems, while presenting key verses and interpretations found in traditional Hindu literature.

Krishna Yajur Veda 6.5.8.2
women are powerless, have no inheritance, and speak more humbly than even a bad man”  (source)

Baudhayana Dharmasutra 2.2.3.46
Now they quote also (the following verse): Their father protects (them) in childhood, their husband protects (them) in youth, and their sons protect (them) in old age a woman is never fit for independence.’ The Veda declares, ‘Therefore women are considered to be destitute of strength and of a portion.”  (source)

Rig Veda 3.31.2
The son does not transfer paternal wealth to his sister. He makes her receptacle of the embryo of her husband. When parents procreate children of either sex, one (the male) becomes the performer of holy rites (he is the legal inheriter), the other (the female) is to be enriched with gifts.”  (source)

This verse is further elaborated by Yaska,

Nirukta 3.6
Na Jamaye’ means not for the sister. Jamih (sister) is (so called because) others beget ‘Ja’, i.e. offspring, on her, or the word may be derived from (the root) jam, meaning to go : she has mostly to go (to the husband’s family). The legitimate, i.e. one’s own son, left, i.e. gave, wealth. He made her the place of depositing the seed of her husband, i.e. the man who accepts her hand. If the mothers have engendered Vahni, i. e. a son, and Avahni, i.e. a daughter, one of them, i.e. the son and the heir, becomes the procreator of children, and the other, i.e. the daughter, is brought up and given away (in marriage) to another person.”  (source)

A daughter can inherit property only if she has no brother, and even then, it is contingent upon her father designating her as the Appointed Daughter. If the daughter eventually has a son, he becomes the legitimate heir and is adopted by his maternal grandfather. Yaska states,

Nirukta 3.5
One should not marry a brotherless maiden, for his (the husband’s) son belongs to him (to the father of the girl). From this, the prohibition of marrying a brotherless maiden and the father’s right to appoint his daughter as a son are evident. When a father selects a husband for his unmarried daughter, he unites himself with a tranquil mind.”  (source)

It is mentioned in Purana,

Shrimad Bhagavatam 10.57.37
Since Satrājit had no sons, his daughter’s sons should receive his inheritance. They should pay for memorial offerings of water and piṇḍa, clear their grandfather’s outstanding debts and keep the remainder of the inheritance for themselves.”  (source)

It is evident that the Vedas and the Brahmanas do not grant inheritance rights to women. Even an appointed daughter cannot retain her father’s property after she bears a son. In Hinduism, inheritance remains an exclusive right of sons.

Wives cannot own property,

Manusmriti 8.416
The wive, the son and the slave,, these three are declared to have no property; whatever they acquire is the property of him to whom they belong.”  (source)