Shloka 25
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
पुरुषत्वे सुता यूय॑ स्त्रीत्वे चेमे शतं सुता: । एकत्र भूज्यतां राज्यं भ्रातृभावेन पुत्रका:
puruṣatve sutā yūyaṁ strītve ceme śataṁ sutāḥ | ekatra bhujyatāṁ rājyaṁ bhrātṛbhāvena putrakāḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Ketika aku berwujud laki-laki, kalian adalah putra-putraku; dan ketika aku berwujud perempuan, mereka pun seratus putraku. Maka, wahai anak-anakku, nikmatilah kerajaan ini bersama-sama dalam semangat persaudaraan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that rightful governance should be guided by dharma—especially concord among kin. By emphasizing shared parentage across differing forms, it urges the heirs to renounce exclusivist claims and rule cooperatively with a sense of brotherhood.
A parent figure addresses two sets of a hundred sons born in different embodied conditions (male and female forms) and instructs them to enjoy/hold the kingdom jointly, treating one another as brothers rather than competing factions.