“The Mahabharata is a story of kinship, marriages and patriliny.” Examine the statement.

Mahabharata is a story of kinship, marriages and patriliny:

1. The Mahabharata is a story about kinship describing a feud over land and power between the Kauravas and the Pandavas.
2. Pandavas became victorious due to their virtues.
3. Kinsmen claimed the throne, and, in very exceptional circumstances, women such as Prabhavati Gupta exercised power.
4. Under patriliny, sons could claim the authority of their fathers.
5. Men acquired wealth through means led by the Manusmriti like inheritance, work, etc.
6. Women acquired wealth through Stridhan( by father, brother, husband).
7. While sons were important for the continuity of the patriliny, daughters had no claims to the resources of the household.
8. Various systems followed for the marriage were endogamy, exogamy, polygamy and polyandry.
9. Members of the same gotra could not marry.
10. One of the most challenging episode in the Mahabharata is Draupadi’s marriage with the Pandavas an instance of Polyandry.