Shloka 42
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
प्रणिपातेन तस्येन्द्र: परितुष्टो वरं ददौ
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?”
ಅವನ ಪ್ರಣಿಪಾತದಿಂದ ಇಂದ್ರನು ತೃಪ್ತನಾಗಿ ವರ ನೀಡಲು ಸಿದ್ಧನಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಿದನು—“ರಾಜನೇ! ನಿನ್ನ ಯಾವ ಪುತ್ರರು ಜೀವಿಸಬೇಕು? ನೀನು ಸ್ತ್ರೀಭಾವದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಾಗ ನಿನ್ನಿಂದ ಜನಿಸಿದವರೋ, ಅಥವಾ ಪುರುಷಭಾವದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಾಗ ನಿನ್ನಿಂದ ಜನಿಸಿದವರೋ?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.
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.