Shloka 41

Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

इन्द्रं दृष्टवा तु राजर्षि: पादयो: शिरसा गत: । प्रसीद त्रिदशश्रेष्ठ पुत्रकामेन स क्रतुः

Transliteration

indraṃ dṛṣṭvā tu rājarṣiḥ pādayoḥ śirasā gataḥ | prasīda tridaśaśreṣṭha putrakāmena sa kratuḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: Als der königliche Seher Indra erblickte, trat er heran und verneigte sich, das Haupt zu Indras Füßen. In Sehnsucht nach einem Sohn flehte der Opfernde (Kratu): „Sei gnädig, o Bester unter den Göttern.“

Word by Word

इन्द्रम्Indra

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

तुbut/indeed

राजर्षिःthe royal sage

पादयोःat (his) two feet

शिरसाwith (his) head

गतःwent/approached (bowed down)

प्रसीदbe gracious/please be pleased

त्रिदशश्रेष्ठO best of the gods

पुत्रकामेनwith desire for a son

सःhe

क्रतुःKrat(u) (the sage named Kratu)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Indra

Rājarṣi (royal sage)

Kratu (sacrificer/possibly the person named Kratu)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores dharmic humility and proper reverence: even a powerful rājarṣi seeks legitimate aims (like progeny) through respectful supplication and ritual merit, recognizing that outcomes depend on divine favor rather than entitlement.

What is happening in the narrative?

A royal sage, identified as the sacrificer Kratu (or a sacrificer), meets Indra, bows at his feet, and requests Indra’s grace because he desires a son.