Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

आह पुत्रांस्ततः सो5थ स्त्रीभूत: पार्थिवोत्तम: । सम्प्रीत्या भुज्यतां राज्यं वनं यास्यामि पुत्रका:

Transliteration

āha putrāṁs tataḥ so ’tha strībhūtaḥ pārthivottamaḥ | samprītyā bhujyatāṁ rājyaṁ vanaṁ yāsyāmi putrakāḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: Then that foremost of kings—having been transformed into a woman—addressed his sons: “My dear sons, live together in mutual affection and enjoy the kingdom. As for me, I shall depart for the forest.” The statement frames a deliberate renunciation: the ruler prioritizes social harmony and orderly succession over personal claim, choosing withdrawal to prevent conflict and uphold dharma.

Word by Word

• आह: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अथ: and then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• स्त्रीभूतः: having become a woman / transformed into a woman
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्रीभूत
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular, क्त (past passive participle), भू

• पार्थिवोत्तमः: the best of kings
• पार्थिवोत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव-उत्तम
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• सम्प्रीत्या: with affection / lovingly
• सम्प्रीत्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्प्रीति
• Form: feminine, instrumental, singular

• भुज्यताम्: let it be enjoyed / may it be enjoyed
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्
• Form: Lot (imperative/benedictive sense), Passive, 3, singular

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• यास्यामि: I shall go
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Lrt (simple future), 1, singular, Parasmaipada

• पुत्रकाः: O dear sons
• पुत्रकाः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रक
• Form: masculine, vocative, plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• the transformed king (pārthivottamaḥ)
• sons (putrāḥ/putrakāḥ)
• kingdom (rājya)
• forest (vana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic kingship through restraint: when personal circumstances could destabilize rule, the ruler chooses renunciation and urges his heirs to govern in concord. Harmony (samprīti) and orderly succession are treated as higher goods than individual attachment to power.

What is happening in the narrative?

A foremost king, having been transformed into a woman, addresses his sons and instructs them to enjoy and administer the kingdom with mutual affection, while he himself resolves to depart to the forest—signaling withdrawal from worldly rule to avoid discord.