Bava Batra

would the daughters receive all of it!  — But, said Raba, [the amount, required for] the maintenance of the daughters until they reach their majority is drawn [from the estate] and the balance is given to the sons. [It is] obvious [that, if the estate was] large  and it depreciated,  the heirs have already acquired ownership thereof.  What [is the law, however, if the estate was] small  and it appreciated;  does it remain in the possession of the heirs  and, consequently, has appreciated in their possession  or are the heirs,  perhaps, entirely disregarded here?  — Come and hear: R. Assi said in the name of R. Johanan [that] if orphans anticipated [the daughters] and sold the estate where it was small,  their sale is valid. R. Jeremiah sat before R. Abbahu, when he addressed to him [the following question].. Does one's widow,  reduce [the value of] an estate?  Do we assume [that] since she receives  maintenance she [thereby] reduces [its value]; or perhaps, since she would receive none  if she married [she is regarded as if] she has none even now?  If you would find [some reason] for saying [that] since she would receive none if she married [she is regarded as if] she has none even now, [the question arises] whether his wife's daughter  reduces [the value of] the estate?  Do we say [that] since she would receive [her maintenance] even if she married, she does reduce [the value of the estate]; or, perhaps, since she would receive none if she died,  she does not reduce [its value]? And if you would find [some ground] for saying that since she would receive nothing if she died, she does not reduce [its value], [the question arises] whether a creditor  reduces the [value of the] estate.  Do we say that he reduces [its value] since he  would receive [his debt] even If he died,  or perhaps, he does not reduce [it] since the debt still requires collecting?  (Others  [report that he] put the questions in the reverse order:  Does a creditor reduce [the value of] the estate?