13.012
bhaṅgāśvanopākhyānam
The sub-story of the broken horse
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
strīpuṁsayoḥ samprayoge sparśaḥ kasyādhiko bhavet। etan me saṁśayaṁ rājan yathāvat vaktum arhasi ॥13-12-1॥
O king, in the union of woman and man, whose touch is greater? This is my doubt; you should properly tell me this. (13-12-1)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। bhaṅgāśvanena śakrasya yathā vairam abhūt purā ॥13-12-2॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story: how enmity once arose between Bhaṅgāśvana and Śakra in the past. (13-12-2)
purā bhaṅgāśvano nāma rājarṣir atidhārmikaḥ। aputraḥ sa naravyāghra putrārthaṃ yajñam āharat ॥13-12-3॥
Once, there was a very righteous royal sage named Bhaṅgāśvana. Being sonless, that tiger among men performed a sacrifice for the sake of obtaining a son. (13-12-3)
agniṣṭuṃ nāma rājarṣir indrādviṣṭaṃ mahābalaḥ। prāyaścitteṣu martyānāṃ putrakāmasya ceṣyate ॥13-12-4॥
The royal sage named Agniṣṭu, who was hated by Indra and was of great strength, is employed in expiations for mortals and for those desiring a son. (13-12-4)
indro jñātvā tu taṃ yajñaṃ mahābhāgaḥ sureśvaraḥ। antaraṃ tasya rājarṣer anvicchanniyatātmanaḥ ॥13-12-5॥
Indra, the greatly fortunate lord of the gods, having come to know of that sacrifice, sought out the secret of the self-controlled royal sage. (13-12-5)
kasyacit tv atha kālasya mṛgayām aṭato nṛpa। idam antaram ity eva śakro nṛpam amohayat ॥13-12-6॥
Once, at a certain time, while a king was roaming in a hunt, Indra bewildered the king at just this interval. (13-12-6)
ekāśvena ca rājarṣirbhrānta indreṇa mohitaḥ। na diśo'vindata nṛpaḥ kṣutpipāsārditastadā ॥13-12-7॥
The royal sage, with only one horse, was confused and deluded by Indra. At that time, the king, afflicted by hunger and thirst, could not find his way. (13-12-7)
itaś cetaś ca vai dhāvañ śrama-tṛṣṇā-ardito nṛpaḥ। saraḥ apaśyat suruciram pūrṇam parama-vāriṇā ॥ saḥ avagāhya saras-tāt pāyayām āsa vājinam ॥13-12-8॥
Running here and there, the king, afflicted by fatigue and thirst, saw a very beautiful lake full of excellent water. Entering the lake, he let his horse drink from it. (13-12-8)
atha pītodakaṃ so'śvaṃ vṛkṣe baddhvā nṛpottamaḥ। avagāhya tataḥ snāto rājā strītvam avāpa ha ॥13-12-9॥
Then, after drinking water and tying the horse to a tree, the best of kings entered the water, bathed, and the king indeed became a woman. (13-12-9)
ātmānaṃ strīkṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā vrīḍito nṛpasattamaḥ। cintānugatasarvātmā vyākulendriyacetanaḥ ॥13-12-10॥
Seeing himself transformed into a woman, the noble king became ashamed; his entire being was overcome by anxiety, and his senses and mind were agitated. (13-12-10)
ārohiṣye kathaṁ tvaśvaṁ kathaṁ yāsyāmi vai puram। agniṣṭuṁ nāma iṣṭaṁ me putrāṇāṁ śatamaurasam ॥13-12-11॥
How shall I mount your horse? How indeed shall I go to the city? To perform the Agniṣṭu sacrifice, named and desired by me, with a hundred sons of my own lineage. (13-12-11)
jātaṃ mahābalānāṃ vai tān pravakṣyāmi kiṃ tv aham। dāreṣu ca asmadīyeṣu paurajānapadeṣu ca ॥13-12-12॥
I shall indeed declare those born of the mighty; but why should I speak about my own wives and among my people, among citizens and countrymen? (13-12-12)
mṛdutvaṃ ca tanutvaṃ ca viklavatvaṃ tathaiva ca। strīguṇā ṛṣibhiḥ proktā dharmatattvārthadarśibhiḥ॥ vyāyāmaḥ karkaśatvaṃ ca vīryaṃ ca puruṣe guṇāḥ॥13-12-13॥
Softness, slenderness, and timidity are, likewise, declared by sages who understand the essence of dharma as qualities of women; exertion, harshness, and strength are qualities in a man. (13-12-13)
pauruṣaṃ vipranaṣṭaṃ me strītvaṃ kenāpi me'bhavat. strībhāvātkatham aśvaṃ tu punar āroḍhum utsahe ॥13-12-14॥
My manliness has been completely lost; womanhood has somehow come to me. How, being in the state of a woman, am I able to mount a horse again? (13-12-14)
mahatā tvatha khedena āruhyāśvaṃ narādhipaḥ। punarāyātpuraṃ tāta strībhūto nṛpasattama ॥13-12-15॥
O dear, the best of kings, then, greatly fatigued, mounted his horse and, having become a woman, returned again to the city. (13-12-15)
putrā dārāś ca bhṛtyāś ca paurajānapadāś ca te। kiṃ nvidaṃ tv iti vijñāya vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ ॥13-12-16॥
Sons, wives, servants, and the citizens and country people, upon realizing "What indeed is this, you?", attained supreme astonishment. (13-12-16)
athovāca sa rājarṣiḥ strībhūto vadatāṃ varaḥ। mṛgayāmasmi niryāto balaiḥ parivṛto dṛḍham ॥ udbhāntaḥ prāviśaṃ ghorāmaṭavīṃ daivamohitaḥ ॥13-12-17॥
Then the royal sage, having become a woman and being the best among speakers, said: "I set out for hunting, firmly surrounded by troops. Confused and deluded by fate, I entered the dreadful forest." (13-12-17)
aṭavyāṃ ca sughorāyāṃ tṛṣṇārto naṣṭacetanaḥ। saraḥ suruciraprakhyam apaśyaṃ pakṣibhir vṛtam ॥13-12-18॥
In that dreadful forest, tormented by thirst and having lost consciousness, I saw a lake of striking beauty, covered with birds. (13-12-18)
tatrāvagāḍhaḥ strībhūto vyaktaṃ daivānna saṃśayaḥ। atṛpta iva putrāṇāṃ dārāṇāṃ ca dhanasya ca ॥13-12-19॥
There, having become a woman and deeply immersed, it is clear by fate, there is no doubt; unsatisfied as if with sons, wives, and wealth. (13-12-19)
uvāca putrāṁś ca tataḥ strībhūtaḥ pārthivottamaḥ। samprītyā bhujyatāṁ rājyaṁ vanaṁ yāsyāmi putrakāḥ॥ abhiṣicya sa putrāṇāṁ śataṁ rājā vanaṁ gataḥ॥13-12-20॥
Then, the best among kings, having become a woman, said to his sons: "With affection, enjoy the kingdom; I shall go to the forest, O sons." Having consecrated his hundred sons, the king went to the forest. (13-12-20)
tām āśrame striyaṃ tāta tāpaso'bhyavapadyata। tāpasenāsya putrāṇām āśrame'py abhavac chatam ॥13-12-21॥
O dear, the ascetic accepted that woman in the hermitage. By the ascetic, there were also a hundred sons in the hermitage. (13-12-21)
atha sā tān sutān gṛhya pūrvaputrān abhāṣata। puruṣatve sutā yūyaṃ strītve ca ime śataṃ sutāḥ ॥13-12-22॥
Then she took those former sons and said: "In manhood, you are the sons; in womanhood, these are a hundred sons." (13-12-22)
ekatra bhujyatāṃ rājyaṃ bhrātṛ-bhāvena putrakāḥ। sahitā bhrātaraḥ te atha rājyaṃ bubhujire tadā ॥13-12-23॥
"Let the kingdom be enjoyed together in a spirit of brotherhood, sons." Thus, united, the brothers then ruled the kingdom together. (13-12-23)
tāndṛṣṭvā bhrātṛbhāvena bhuñjānān rājyam uttamam। cintayāmāsa devendro manyunā abhipariplutaḥ ॥ upakāro'sya rājarṣeḥ kṛto na apakṛtaṃ mayā ॥13-12-24॥
Seeing them enjoying the excellent kingdom in brotherly harmony, Indra, filled with anger, thought: "I have done a favor to this royal sage, not any harm." (13-12-24)
tato brāhmaṇarūpeṇa devarājaḥ śatakratuḥ। bhedayāmāsa tān gatvā nagaraṃ vai nṛpātmajān ॥13-12-25॥
Then Indra, the king of the gods, having assumed the form of a brāhmaṇa, went to the city and caused the sons of the king to be divided. (13-12-25)
bhrātṝṇāṃ nāsti saubhrātraṃ ye'pyekasya pituḥ sutāḥ। rājyahetorvivaditāḥ kaśyapasya surāsurāḥ ॥13-12-26॥
There is no brotherhood among brothers; even the sons of one father, Kaśyapa, the devas and asuras, quarrelled for the sake of the kingdom. (13-12-26)
yūyaṃ bhaṅgāśvanāpatyās tāpasasy itare sutāḥ। kaśyapasya surāś caiva asurāś ca sutās tathā॥ yuṣmākaṃ paitṛkaṃ rājyaṃ bhujyate tāpasātmajaiḥ॥13-12-27॥
You, the descendants of Bhaṅgāśva, and the other sons of the ascetic, as well as the gods and demons who are also sons of Kaśyapa, your ancestral kingdom is being ruled by the sons of the ascetic. (13-12-27)
indreṇa bheditās te tu yuddhe'nyonyam apātayan। tac chrutvā tāpasī cāpi santaptā praruroda ha ॥13-12-28॥
But, having been divided by Indra, they caused each other to fall in battle. Hearing that, the ascetic woman, also distressed, indeed wept. (13-12-28)
brāhmaṇacchadmanābhyetya tām indro 'thānvapṛcchata। kena duḥkhena santaptā rodiṣi tvaṃ varānane ॥13-12-29॥
Indra, having approached her in the disguise of a brāhmaṇa, then asked, "O beautiful-faced one, by what suffering are you afflicted and why do you weep?" (13-12-29)
brāhmaṇaṃ tu tato dṛṣṭvā sā strī karuṇam abravīt। putrāṇāṃ dve śate brahman kālena vinipātite ॥13-12-30॥
But when she saw the Brāhmaṇa, the woman spoke pitifully: "O Brāhmaṇa, two hundred of my sons have been destroyed by time." (13-12-30)
ahaṃ rājābhavaṃ vipra tatra putraśataṃ mayā। samutpannaṃ surūpāṇāṃ vikrāntānāṃ dvijottama ॥13-12-31॥
O best of twice-born, O brāhmaṇa, I became a king there; by me, a hundred sons were born, all handsome and valiant. (13-12-31)
kadācin mṛgayāṃ yāta udbhānto gahane vane। avagāḍhaś ca sarasi strībhūto brāhmaṇottama॥ putrān rājye pratiṣṭhāpya vanam asmi tato gataḥ॥13-12-32॥
Once, while hunting, I wandered into a dense forest and, entering a lake, became a woman, O best of Brāhmaṇas. After establishing my sons in the kingdom, I then went to the forest. (13-12-32)
striyāś ca me putraśataṃ tāpasena mahātmanā। āśrame janitaṃ brahman nītās te nagaraṃ mayā ॥13-12-33॥
O Brahman, my hundred sons born of the women by the great-souled ascetic in the hermitage were led by me to the city. (13-12-33)
teṣāṃ ca vairam utpannaṃ kālayogena vai dvija। etac chocāmi viprendra daivenābhipariplutā ॥13-12-34॥
Enmity arose among them due to the influence of time, O twice-born. I grieve over this, O best of Brāhmaṇas, being completely overwhelmed by fate. (13-12-34)
indras tāṃ duḥkhitāṃ dṛṣṭvā abravīt paruṣaṃ vacaḥ। purā suduḥsahaṃ bhadre mama duḥkhaṃ tvayā kṛtam ॥13-12-35॥
Indra, seeing her afflicted with sorrow, spoke harsh words: "Formerly, O auspicious one, you caused me very unbearable sorrow." (13-12-35)
indradviṣṭena yajatā māmanādṛtya durmate। indro'hamasmi durbuddhe vairaṃ te yātitaṃ mayā ॥13-12-36॥
By you, who are hated by Indra and perform sacrifices disregarding me, O evil-minded one, know that I am Indra. O one of wicked understanding, your enmity has been destroyed by me. (13-12-36)
indraṃ tu dṛṣṭvā rājarṣiḥ pādayoḥ śirasā gataḥ। prasīda tridaśaśreṣṭha putrakāmena sa kratuḥ ॥ iṣṭastridaśaśārdūla tatra me kṣantumarhasi ॥13-12-37॥
But when the royal sage saw Indra, he bowed his head at Indra's feet. "Be gracious, O best of the gods! With the desire for a son, he performed the sacrifice. O tiger among the gods, you ought to forgive me for that there." (13-12-37)
praṇipātena tasyendraḥ parituṣṭo varaṃ dadau। putrā vai katame rājanjīvantu tava śaṃsa me ॥ strībhūtasya hi ye jātāḥ puruṣasyātha ye'bhavan ॥13-12-38॥
By his prostration, Indra was pleased and granted a boon. O king, tell me, which of your sons should live? Of those born when you were a woman, and those born when you were a man, which ones? (13-12-38)
tāpasī tu tataḥ śakram uvāca prayatāñjaliḥ। strībhūtasya hi ye jātās te me jīvantu vāsava ॥13-12-39॥
But the female ascetic then, with joined hands, said to Indra: "O Indra, may those who were born from the one who became a woman indeed live." (13-12-39)
indras tu vismito hṛṣṭaḥ striyaṃ papraccha tāṃ punaḥ। puruṣotpāditā ye te kathaṃ dveṣyāḥ sutās tava ॥13-12-40॥
But Indra, astonished and delighted, again asked the woman: "How are those sons of yours, who are born of men, hateful?" (13-12-40)
strībhūtasya hi ye jātāḥ snehastebhyo'dhikaḥ katham। kāraṇaṃ śrotumicchāmi tanme vaktumihārhasi ॥13-12-41॥
For those who are born as women, why is the affection towards them greater? I wish to hear the reason for this; please tell me that here. (13-12-41)
stryuvāca॥
The woman said.
striyāstvabhyadhikaḥ sneho na tathā puruṣasya vai। tasmātte śakra jīvantu ye jātāḥ strīkṛtasya vai॥13-12-42॥
But, O Śakra, the affection of women is greater, not so of men indeed; therefore, may those who are born of women live. (13-12-42)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
evam-ukte tatas tv indraḥ prīto vākyam uvāca ha। sarva eva iha jīvantu putrās te satyavādini ॥13-12-43॥
When this was said, then Indra, being pleased, spoke these words: "O truth-speaker, may all your sons live here." (13-12-43)
varaṃ ca vṛṇu rājendra yaṃ tvam icchasi suvrata। puruṣatvam atha strītvam matto yad abhikāṅkṣasi ॥13-12-44॥
O king, choose a boon as you wish, O virtuous one; whether you desire manhood or womanhood from me, whatever you wish. (13-12-44)
stryuvāca॥
The woman said.
strītvameva vṛṇe śakra prasanne tvayi vāsava। evamuktastu devendrastāṃ striyaṃ pratyuvāca ha। puruṣatvaṃ kathaṃ tyaktvā strītvaṃ rocayase vibho ॥13-12-46॥
"I choose only womanhood, O Śakra, when you are pleased, O Vāsava." Thus addressed, Indra replied to her: "How is it that, having abandoned manhood, you desire womanhood, O lord?" (13-12-46)
evam-uktaḥ pratyuvāca strībhūto rājasattamaḥ। striyāḥ puruṣasaṃyoge prītir-abhyadhikā sadā ॥ etasmāt-kāraṇāc-chakra strītvam-eva vṛṇomy-aham ॥13-12-47॥
Thus addressed, the best of kings who had become a woman replied: 'A woman's affection is always greater in union with a man. For this reason, O Śakra, I choose only womanhood.' (13-12-47)
rame caiva adhikaṃ strītve satyaṃ vai devasattama। strībhāvena hi tuṣṭo'smi gamyatāṃ tridaśādhipa ॥13-12-48॥
I delight even more in being a woman; truly, O best of the gods, I am pleased with the state of womanhood; you may go, O lord of the gods. (13-12-48)
evam astv iti coktvā tām āpṛcchya tridivaṃ gataḥ। evaṃ striyā mahārāja adhikā prītir ucyate ॥13-12-49॥
Having said, "So be it," and taking leave of her, he went to heaven. In this way, O great king, it is said that a woman's affection is greater. (13-12-49)
