Shloka 36
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
अवगादश्न सरसि स्त्रीभूतो ब्राह्मणोत्तम । पुत्रान् राज्ये प्रतिष्ठाप्प वनमस्मि ततो गत:
avagāḍaḥ snānaṃ sarasi strī-bhūto brāhmaṇottama | putrān rājye pratiṣṭhāpya vanam asmi tato gataḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O pinakamainam sa mga brāhmaṇa! Nang ako’y sumisid at naligo sa isang lawa, ako’y nagbago mula sa lalaki tungo sa babae. Matapos kong iluklok ang aking mga anak sa kaharian, ako’y umalis patungo sa gubat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma through responsible transition: after an extraordinary personal change, the speaker ensures political continuity by installing heirs, then withdraws to the forest—highlighting duty to the realm followed by renunciant detachment.
Bhīṣma recounts a past episode: bathing in a lake causes a sex transformation (male to female). After this event, the person places his sons in charge of the kingdom and leaves for forest life.