Shloka 24
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
तापसेनास्य पुत्राणामाश्रमेष्वभवच्छतम् । अथ सा<55दाय तानू् सर्वान् पूर्वपुत्रानभाषत
tāpasenāsya putrāṇām āśrameṣv abhavac chatam | atha sā ādāya tān sarvān pūrvaputrān abhāṣata |
Bhīṣma berkata: Di pertapaan sang resi itu, lahirlah seratus putra baginya. Lalu sang ratu menghimpun mereka semua dan mendatangi putra-putranya yang terdahulu, seraya berkata: “Anak-anakku! Ketika aku berwujud laki-laki, kalian adalah seratus putraku; dan kini setelah aku berwujud perempuan, mereka pun seratus putraku. Hendaklah kalian semua bersatu dan menikmati serta memerintah kerajaan ini dalam semangat persaudaraan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse promotes dharmic governance through unity: even when lineage is complex, rightful rule should be maintained by mutual recognition and fraternal cooperation rather than rivalry.
A queen, after bearing a hundred sons in an ascetic’s hermitage, gathers them and speaks to her earlier-born sons, urging both sets of sons to live as brothers and jointly enjoy/administrate the kingdom.