Question

Describe the Social implications of access to Resources during the Mahabharat period.

Answer 1

1. Gendered access to property -
   1. According to the Dharmashastras, the paternal estate was to be divided equally amongst sons after the death of the Father, with a special share for the eldest.
   2. Women could not claim a share of these resources.
   3. Women were allowed to retain stridhana.
   4. This could be inherited by their children, without the husband having any claim on it.
   5. Wealthy women such as the Vakataka queen Prabhavati Gupta had property including lands.
   6. Epigraphic and textual evidence suggests that upper-class women had access to resources, land, cattle, and money.
2. Varna and access to property - There were criteria for regulating access to wealth was varna. While a variety of occupations were listed for varnas.
3. Poems included in the Tamil Sangam anthologies often illuminate social and economic relationships, while there were differences between rich and poor, those who controlled resources were also expected to share them.