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?”
Terpuas oleh sujud hormat itu, Indra pun mengurniakan suatu anugerah. Lalu, bersiap untuk memberikannya, baginda bersabda: “Wahai Raja, antara anak-anakmu, yang manakah harus hidup kembali—mereka yang engkau peranakkan ketika engkau berada dalam keadaan perempuan, atau mereka yang lahir daripadamu ketika engkau berada dalam keadaan lelaki?”
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.