Shloka 22
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
आह पुत्रांस्ततः सो5थ स्त्रीभूत: पार्थिवोत्तम: । सम्प्रीत्या भुज्यतां राज्यं वनं यास्यामि पुत्रका:
āha putrāṁs tataḥ so ’tha strībhūtaḥ pārthivottamaḥ | samprītyā bhujyatāṁ rājyaṁ vanaṁ yāsyāmi putrakāḥ ||
ภีษมะกล่าวว่า— ครั้นแล้วกษัตริย์ผู้ประเสริฐนั้นซึ่งกลายเป็นสตรี ได้ตรัสแก่โอรสว่า “ลูกเอ๋ย จงอยู่ร่วมกันด้วยความรักใคร่และเสวยราชสมบัติเถิด เราจักไปสู่ป่า”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic kingship through restraint: when personal circumstances could destabilize rule, the ruler chooses renunciation and urges his heirs to govern in concord. Harmony (samprīti) and orderly succession are treated as higher goods than individual attachment to power.
A foremost king, having been transformed into a woman, addresses his sons and instructs them to enjoy and administer the kingdom with mutual affection, while he himself resolves to depart to the forest—signaling withdrawal from worldly rule to avoid discord.