Shloka 52
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
स्त्रिया: पुरुषसंयोगे प्रीतिरभ्यधिका सदा । एतस्मात् कारणाच्छक्र स्त्रीत्वमेव वृणोम्पहम्
striyāḥ puruṣa-saṃyoge prītir abhyadhikā sadā | etasmāt kāraṇāc chakra strītvam eva vṛṇomi aham, devendra |
ភីෂ្មៈបានមានព្រះវាចា៖ «នៅពេលរួមស្នេហាជាមួយបុរស សេចក្តីរីករាយរបស់ស្ត្រីតែងលើសជានិច្ច។ ដោយហេតុនេះ ឱ សក្រន្ទ្រា—ព្រះអម្ចាស់នៃទេវតា—ខ្ញុំជ្រើសរើសភាពជាស្ត្រីតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ»។
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts a comparative claim about sensual delight in sexual union—stating that a woman’s pleasure is greater—and uses that claim to justify a deliberate preference for womanhood. It frames bodily experience as a factor in personal choice, while remaining within a didactic dialogue addressed to Indra.
Bhīṣma addresses Indra (Śakra/Devendra) and states a reasoned preference: because women are said to experience greater pleasure in union with men, he declares that he would choose to be a woman. The line functions as a pointed remark within a moral-discursive context rather than battlefield narration.