13.012
The sub-story of the broken horse
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
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)
Bhishma said.
Here too, they recount this ancient story: how enmity once arose between Bhaṅgāśvana and Śakra in the past. (13-12-2)
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)
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)
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)
Once, at a certain time, while a king was roaming in a hunt, Indra bewildered the king at just this interval. (13-12-6)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Sons, wives, servants, and the citizens and country people, upon realizing "What indeed is this, you?", attained supreme astonishment. (13-12-16)
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)
In that dreadful forest, tormented by thirst and having lost consciousness, I saw a lake of striking beauty, covered with birds. (13-12-18)
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)
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)
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)
Then she took those former sons and said: "In manhood, you are the sons; in womanhood, these are a hundred sons." (13-12-22)
"Let the kingdom be enjoyed together in a spirit of brotherhood, sons." Thus, united, the brothers then ruled the kingdom together. (13-12-23)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Indra, seeing her afflicted with sorrow, spoke harsh words: "Formerly, O auspicious one, you caused me very unbearable sorrow." (13-12-35)
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)
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)
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)
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)
But Indra, astonished and delighted, again asked the woman: "How are those sons of yours, who are born of men, hateful?" (13-12-40)
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)
The woman said.
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)
Bhishma said.
When this was said, then Indra, being pleased, spoke these words: "O truth-speaker, may all your sons live here." (13-12-43)
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)
The woman said.
"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)
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)
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)
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)
