Shloka 46
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
स्त्रीभूतस्य हि ये जाता: स्नेहस्तेभ्योडथधिक: कथम् | कारण श्रोतुमिच्छामि तन्मे वक्तुमिहाहसि
strībhūtasya hi ye jātāḥ snehast ebhyo ’tha adhikaḥ katham | kāraṇaṁ śrotum icchāmi tan me vaktum ihārhasi ||
Bhishma berkata: “Mengapa kasihmu lebih besar kepada mereka yang lahir ketika engkau menjelma sebagai perempuan? Aku ingin mendengar sebabnya; di sini engkau patut menjelaskannya kepadaku.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into partiality and attachment: Bhishma asks for the reason behind unequal affection, implying that emotions and duties should be examined through rational explanation (kāraṇa) rather than left as unaccountable impulses.
Bhishma addresses a person who has experienced a change into female form and asks why the children born in that female state receive greater affection, requesting a clear explanation of the cause.