Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

रमिताभ्यधिकं स्त्रीत्वे सत्यं वै देवसत्तम । स्त्रीभावेन हि तुष्यामि गम्यतां त्रिदशाधिप

Transliteration

ramitābhyadhikaṃ strītve satyaṃ vai devasattama | strībhāvena hi tuṣyāmi gamyatāṃ tridaśādhipa ||

Translation

Bhishma dit : «Ô le meilleur des dieux, c’est là vérité : dans l’état de femme j’ai éprouvé une jouissance plus grande. Aussi suis-je satisfaite d’être femme. Ô seigneur des trente dieux, retire-toi.»

Word by Word

• रमितात्: than (sexual) enjoyment/pleasure
• रमितात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमिता (√रम्)
• Form: Feminine, Ablative, Singular

• अधिकम्: more, greater
• अधिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• स्त्रीत्वे: in womanhood, in the state of being a woman
• स्त्रीत्वे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीत्व
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• सत्यम्: truth, truly
• सत्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वै: indeed, surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• देवसत्तम: O best of the gods
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवसत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• स्त्रीभावेन: by/with the condition of being a woman
• स्त्रीभावेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीभाव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• हि: for, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• तुष्यामि: I am satisfied / I rejoice
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तुष्
• Form: Present, Indicative, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• गम्यताम्: let (him/you) go; please depart
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम्
• Form: Imperative, Imperative, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive/impersonal imperative: 'let it be gone/please go'

• त्रिदशाधिप: O lord of the thirty (gods), O king of the gods
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदशाधिप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Indra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds satya (truthful speech) and personal integrity: the speaker openly states their lived satisfaction with a particular embodied condition and refuses external pressure, implying that ethical clarity includes honest acknowledgment of one’s experience and contentment rather than mere conformity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, addressing Indra (lord of the gods), declares that in the state of womanhood they have felt greater pleasure and are therefore satisfied with that form; consequently, they ask Indra to depart, signaling a firm decision and closure of the divine encounter.