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 ||
毗湿摩说道：于是那位最尊贵的君王——已化为女身——对诸子宣言：“我亲爱的孩子们，当彼此和睦相爱，共享并治理此国；而我，将赴林而去。”此言昭示其有意的出离：君王以社会和合与有序继承胜过个人权利，为避纷争、护持达摩而选择退隐。
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.