Shloka 163
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
पुनरायात् पुरं तात स्त्रीकृतो नृपसत्तम: । “अब स्त्रीभाव आ जानेसे उस अश्वपर कैसे चढ़ सकूँगी?” तात! किसी-किसी तरह महान् प्रयत्न करके वे स्त्रीरूपधारी नरेश घोड़ेपर चढ़कर अपने नगरमें आये
punar āyāt puraṃ tāta strīkṛto nṛpasattamaḥ |
Wika ni Bhishma: “Pagkaraan, mahal kong anak, ang pinakadakilang hari—na naging babae—ay nagbalik sa kanyang lungsod. Inisip niya, ‘Ngayong dumating sa akin ang pagkababae, paano ako sasakay sa kabayong iyon?’ Gayunman, sa matinding pagsisikap at sa anumang paraang makakaya, nakasakay siya sa kabayo sa anyong babae at nakabalik sa kabisera.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one’s condition changes abruptly and brings embarrassment or practical difficulty, steadiness of mind and determined effort enable one to continue one’s rightful course; dignity is shown through perseverance rather than surrender to circumstance.
Bhishma narrates that a king, transformed into a woman, worries about how to mount a horse in that state, yet with great effort manages to mount and returns to his city.