Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

स्त्रीभूतस्य हि ये जाता: स्नेहस्तेभ्योडथधिक: कथम्‌ | कारण श्रोतुमिच्छामि तन्मे वक्तुमिहाहसि

Transliteration

strībhūtasya hi ye jātāḥ snehast ebhyo ’tha adhikaḥ katham | kāraṇaṁ śrotum icchāmi tan me vaktum ihārhasi ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— “ତୁମେ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀରୂପ ଧାରଣ କରିଥିବାବେଳେ ଯେମାନେ ଜନ୍ମିଲେ, ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ତୁମ ସ୍ନେହ କାହିଁକି ଅଧିକ? ମୁଁ ଏହାର କାରଣ ଶୁଣିବାକୁ ଚାହେଁ; ଏଠାରେ ତୁମେ ମୋତେ ତାହା କହିବା ଉଚିତ।”

Word by Word

• स्त्रीभूतस्य: of (one) who has become a woman
• स्त्रीभूतस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्रीभूत
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• ये: who/which (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• जाताः: born/produced
• जाताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्नेहः: affection
• स्नेहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तेभ्यः: to/for them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Dative/Ablative, Plural

• अथ: then/and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अधिकः: greater/more
• अधिकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कथम्: how/why
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• कारणम्: reason/cause
• कारणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Infinitive (Tumun)

• इच्छामि: I wish/desire
• इच्छामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present (Lat), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मे: to me/for me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Dative/Genitive, Singular

• वक्तुम्: to tell/speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Infinitive (Tumun)

• इह: here/in this matter
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• अर्हसि: you ought/are fit
• अर्हसि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present (Lat), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical inquiry into partiality and attachment: Bhishma asks for the reason behind unequal affection, implying that emotions and duties should be examined through rational explanation (kāraṇa) rather than left as unaccountable impulses.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma addresses a person who has experienced a change into female form and asks why the children born in that female state receive greater affection, requesting a clear explanation of the cause.