Shloka 42
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
प्रणिपातेन तस्येन्द्र: परितुष्टो वरं ददौ
praṇipātena tasyendraḥ parituṣṭo varaṃ dadau | “anenaivaṃ praṇamya indraḥ saṃtuṣṭo varadānāya udyataḥ prāha—rājan! tava ke putrā jīvitaṃ yāyur? strī-bhūtvā ye tvayā janitāḥ, te vā, athavā puruṣāvasthāyāṃ ye tvattaḥ prasūtāḥ?”
اُس کے اس طرح سجدۂ تعظیم کرنے پر اِندر خوش ہوا اور ور دینے کو آمادہ ہو کر بولا—“اے راجن! تمہارے کون سے بیٹے زندہ کیے جائیں—وہ جو تم نے عورت کی حالت میں جنے تھے، یا وہ جو مرد کی حالت میں تم سے پیدا ہوئے تھے؟”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Reverence and humility can draw divine favor, but a boon is also a moral examination: the recipient must choose responsibly, without being ruled solely by attachment, and must consider dharma toward all dependents and lineages.
After the king prostrates, Indra is pleased and offers a boon. Indra then poses a specific choice: which set of the king’s sons should be restored to life—those born when the king was in a female condition or those born when the king was in a male condition.