Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

प्रणिपातेन तस्येन्द्र: परितुष्टो वरं ददौ

Transliteration

praṇipātena tasyendraḥ parituṣṭo varaṃ dadau | “anenaivaṃ praṇamya indraḥ saṃtuṣṭo varadānāya udyataḥ prāha—rājan! tava ke putrā jīvitaṃ yāyur? strī-bhūtvā ye tvayā janitāḥ, te vā, athavā puruṣāvasthāyāṃ ye tvattaḥ prasūtāḥ?”

Translation

その敬虔な平伏に満足したインドラは恩寵を授けた。授与しようとして言った。「王よ、そなたの子らのうち、誰を生き返らせるべきか。女の身となっていた時に生まれた子らか、それとも男の身であった時にそなたから生まれた子らか。」

Word by Word

• प्रणिपातेन: by (their) prostration
• प्रणिपातेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणिपात
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• तस्य: of him / his
• तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परितुष्टः: fully pleased
• परितुष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-तुष्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Indra
• King (unnamed in this verse)
• sons (putrāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Reverence and humility can draw divine favor, but a boon is also a moral examination: the recipient must choose responsibly, without being ruled solely by attachment, and must consider dharma toward all dependents and lineages.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the king prostrates, Indra is pleased and offers a boon. Indra then poses a specific choice: which set of the king’s sons should be restored to life—those born when the king was in a female condition or those born when the king was in a male condition.