Shloka 47
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
रूयुवाच स्त्रियास्त्वभ्यधिक: स्नेहो न तथा पुरुषस्य वै | तस्मात् ते शक्र जीवन्तु ये जाता: स्त्रीकृतस्य वै
bhīṣma uvāca | striyās tv abhyadhikaḥ sneho na tathā puruṣasya vai | tasmāt te śakra jīvantu ye jātāḥ strīkṛtasya vai ||
स्त्र्युवाच— स्त्रियास्त्वभ्यधिकः स्नेहो न तथा पुरुषस्य वै । तस्मात् ते शक्र जीवन्तु ये जाताḥ स्त्रीकृतस्य वै ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical insight that maternal (or feminine-coded) affection is portrayed as especially intense and self-giving, and it uses that premise to justify a compassionate request: that those connected through such a birth relationship should be granted life.
Bhishma reports a statement addressed to Indra (Śakra): invoking the idea that a woman’s love for her children is greater than a man’s, the speaker asks Indra to restore to life those who were born when the speaker had taken on a female form.