Shloka 45
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
इन्द्रस्तु विस्मितो दृष्ट्वा स्त्रियं पप्रच्छ तां पुनः । पुरुषोत्पादिता ये ते कथं द्वेष्या: सुतास्तव
indras tu vismito dṛṣṭvā striyaṃ papraccha tāṃ punaḥ | puruṣotpāditā ye te kathaṃ dveṣyāḥ sutās tava |
Bhīṣma nói: Indra kinh ngạc trước điều ấy, lại hỏi người đàn bà: “Những người con ngươi sinh ra khi mang hình nam—vì sao lại trở thành đối tượng bị ngươi căm ghét?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into partiality: why the same parent might feel aversion toward some offspring and greater affection toward others. It invites reflection on the causes of attachment (rāga) and aversion (dveṣa) and how such biases can conflict with dharma.
Indra, surprised by what he has witnessed, questions a woman about her attitude toward her children—specifically, why the sons produced when she assumed a male form have become hateful to her. The question sets up an explanation of the underlying reason for her differing feelings.