Shloka 22
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
आह पुत्रांस्ततः सो5थ स्त्रीभूत: पार्थिवोत्तम: । सम्प्रीत्या भुज्यतां राज्यं वनं यास्यामि पुत्रका:
āha putrāṁs tataḥ so ’tha strībhūtaḥ pārthivottamaḥ | samprītyā bhujyatāṁ rājyaṁ vanaṁ yāsyāmi putrakāḥ ||
ビーシュマは語った。すると、女へと変じた最上の王は子らに告げた。「愛しき子らよ、互いに慈しみ合い、和合して国を治め、その国土を享受せよ。わたしは森へ去る。」この言葉は意図された出離を示す。王は私的な権利の主張よりも、社会の和と正しい継承を重んじ、争いを避けダルマを守るために退くのである。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.
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.