Bhangasvana Becomes a Woman: Whose Pleasure Is Greater

Verse 1 (13.34.1)

स्त्रीपुंसयोः सम्प्रयोगे स्पर्शः कस्याधिको भवेत् । एतस्मिन्संशये राजन्यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि ॥

strīpuṃsayoḥ samprayoge sparśaḥ kasyādhiko bhavet | etasminsaṃśaye rājanyathāvadvaktumarhasi

In the union of a woman and a man, whose touch gives the greater pleasure? On this doubt, O king, you ought to explain it as it truly is.

Verse 2 (13.34.2)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । भङ्गास्वनेन शक्रस्य यथा वैरमभूत्पुरा ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | bhaṅgāsvanena śakrasya yathā vairamabhūtpurā

On this they cite an ancient tale, of how Bhangasvana came to be at enmity with Indra long ago.

Verse 3 (13.34.3)

पुरा भङ्गास्वनो नाम राजर्षिरतिधार्मिकः । अपुत्रः पुरुषव्याघ्र पुत्रार्थं यज्ञमाहरत् ॥

purā bhaṅgāsvano nāma rājarṣiratidhārmikaḥ | aputraḥ puruṣavyāghra putrārthaṃ yajñamāharat

Long ago there was a royal sage named Bhangasvana, exceedingly righteous. Childless, O tiger among men, he undertook a sacrifice for the sake of a son.

Verse 4 (13.34.4)

अग्निष्टुतं स राजर्षिरिन्द्रद्विष्टं महाबलः । प्रायश्चित्तेषु मर्त्यानां पुत्रकामेषु चेष्यते ॥

agniṣṭutaṃ sa rājarṣirindradviṣṭaṃ mahābalaḥ | prāyaścitteṣu martyānāṃ putrakāmeṣu ceṣyate

That mighty royal sage performed the Agnishtut sacrifice, which Indra detests, and which is prescribed among the expiatory rites for mortals who desire sons.

Verse 5 (13.34.5)

इन्द्रो ज्ञात्वा तु तं यज्ञं महाभागः सुरेश्वरः । अन्तरं तस्य राजर्षेरन्विच्छन्नियतात्मनः । न चैवास्यान्तरं राजन्स ददर्श महात्मनः ॥

indro jñātvā tu taṃ yajñaṃ mahābhāgaḥ sureśvaraḥ | antaraṃ tasya rājarṣeranvicchanniyatātmanaḥ | na caivāsyāntaraṃ rājansa dadarśa mahātmanaḥ

Indra, the mighty lord of the gods, learned of that sacrifice and sought an opening against that self-controlled royal sage; but, O king, he could find no opening against the great-souled man.

Note on the text: Lines 1-2 = CE 13.12.5a,c; line 3 = CE star passage 13,012.005d*0064_01.

Verse 6 (13.34.6)

कस्य चित्त्वथ कालस्य मृगयां गतवान्नृपः । इदमन्तरमित्येव शक्रो नृपममोहयत् ॥

kasya cittvatha kālasya mṛgayāṃ gatavānnṛpaḥ | idamantaramityeva śakro nṛpamamohayat

After some time the king went out hunting. Thinking 'Now is my chance,' Shakra bewildered the king.

Verse 7 (13.34.7)

एकाश्वेन च राजर्षिर्भ्रान्त इन्द्रेण मोहितः । न दिशोऽविन्दत नृपः क्षुत्पिपासार्दितस्तदा ॥

ekāśvena ca rājarṣirbhrānta indreṇa mohitaḥ | na diśo'vindata nṛpaḥ kṣutpipāsārditastadā

Led astray by Indra, the royal sage wandered on a single horse; tormented by hunger and thirst, the king could no longer find his directions.

Verse 8 (13.34.8)

इतश्चेतश्च धावन्वै श्रमतृष्णार्दितो नृप । सरोऽपश्यत्सुरुचिरं पूर्णं परमवारिणा ॥

itaścetaśca dhāvanvai śramatṛṣṇārdito nṛpa | saro'paśyatsuruciraṃ pūrṇaṃ paramavāriṇā

Running hither and thither, worn out by fatigue and thirst, the king saw a very beautiful lake, full of excellent water.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.12.8a,c.

Verse 9 (13.34.9)

सोऽवगाह्य सरस्तात पाययामास वाजिनम् ॥

so'vagāhya sarastāta pāyayāmāsa vājinam

Entering the lake, dear child, he let his horse drink.

Note on the text: One-line verse as printed on the page (13-34-9a); = CE 13.12.8e.

Verse 10 (13.34.10)

अथ पीतोदकं सोऽश्वं वृक्षे बद्ध्वा नृपोत्तमः । अवगाह्य ततः स्नातस्तत्र स्त्रीत्वमवाप्तवान् ॥

atha pītodakaṃ so'śvaṃ vṛkṣe baddhvā nṛpottamaḥ | avagāhya tataḥ snātastatra strītvamavāptavān

Then, when the horse had drunk, that best of kings tied it to a tree, plunged into the lake and bathed, and there he became a woman.

Verse 11 (13.34.11)

आत्मानं स्त्रीकृतं दृष्ट्वा व्रीडितो नृपसत्तमः । चिन्तानुगतसर्वात्मा व्याकुलेन्द्रियचेतनः ॥

ātmānaṃ strīkṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā vrīḍito nṛpasattamaḥ | cintānugatasarvātmā vyākulendriyacetanaḥ

Seeing himself turned into a woman, that best of kings was ashamed; his whole mind sank in worry, and his senses and thoughts were thrown into turmoil.

Verse 12 (13.34.12)

आरोहिष्ये कथं त्वश्वं कथं यास्यामि वै पुरम् । इष्टेनाग्निष्टुता चापि पुत्राणां शतमौरसम् ॥

ārohiṣye kathaṃ tvaśvaṃ kathaṃ yāsyāmi vai puram | iṣṭenāgniṣṭutā cāpi putrāṇāṃ śatamaurasam

'How shall I mount the horse? How shall I go back to my city? Through the Agnishtut I performed, a hundred mighty sons of my own body were born to me.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.12.11a,c.

Verse 13 (13.34.13)

जातं महाबलानां मे तान्प्रवक्ष्यामि किन्न्वहम् । दारेषु चात्मकीयेषु पौरजानपदेषु च ॥

jātaṃ mahābalānāṃ me tānpravakṣyāmi kinnvaham | dāreṣu cātmakīyeṣu paurajānapadeṣu ca

What shall I tell them, and my wives, and the townsfolk and country people?

Note on the text: Corrected किन्नवहम् → किन्न्वहम् (misprint in Wikisource; CE reads 'kiṃ tv aham'). Lines = CE 13.12.12a,c.

Verse 14 (13.34.14)

मृदुत्वं च तनुत्वं च पराधीनत्वमेव च । हासभावादि लावण्यं स्त्रीगुणाद्वा कुतूहलम् । स्त्रीगुणा ऋषिभिः प्रोक्ता धर्मतत्त्वार्थदर्शिभिः ॥

mṛdutvaṃ ca tanutvaṃ ca parādhīnatvameva ca | hāsabhāvādi lāvaṇyaṃ strīguṇādvā kutūhalam | strīguṇā ṛṣibhiḥ proktā dharmatattvārthadarśibhiḥ

Gentleness, delicacy, and dependence on others; playful expression and the like, loveliness, and curiosity: these are a woman's qualities, as the sages who see the truth and meaning of dharma have declared.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick and quote marks around line 2. Line 2 = CE star line 13,012.013b*0065_01 (CE 'hāvabhāvādi-' where Wikisource reads हासभावादि; recension variant, kept); lines 1 and 3 = CE 13.12.13a,c.

Verse 15 (13.34.15)

व्यायामः कर्कशत्वं च वीर्यं च पुरुषे गुणाः ॥

vyāyāmaḥ karkaśatvaṃ ca vīryaṃ ca puruṣe guṇāḥ

Exertion, hardness, and prowess are a man's qualities.

Note on the text: One-line verse as printed on the page (13-34-15a); = CE 13.12.13e.

Verse 16 (13.34.16)

पौरुषं विप्रनष्टं स्त्रीत्वं केनापि मेऽभवत् । स्त्रीभावात्पुनरश्वं तं कथमारोढुमुत्सहे ॥

pauruṣaṃ vipranaṣṭaṃ strītvaṃ kenāpi me'bhavat | strībhāvātpunaraśvaṃ taṃ kathamāroḍhumutsahe

'My manhood is utterly lost; womanhood has somehow come upon me. Having become a woman, how can I find the strength to mount that horse again?'

Verse 17 (13.34.17)

महता त्वथ खेदेन आरुह्याश्वं नराधिपः । पुनरायात्पुरं तात स्त्रीभूतो नृपसत्तमः ॥

mahatā tvatha khedena āruhyāśvaṃ narādhipaḥ | punarāyātpuraṃ tāta strībhūto nṛpasattamaḥ

Then, with great distress, the king mounted the horse and, dear child, returned to the city, a woman though he was, that best of kings.

Verse 18 (13.34.18)

पुत्रा दाराश्च भृत्याश्च पौरजानपदाश्च ते । किन्न्विदं त्विति विज्ञाय विस्मयं परमं गताः ॥

putrā dārāśca bhṛtyāśca paurajānapadāśca te | kinnvidaṃ tviti vijñāya vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ

His sons, wives, servants, and the townspeople and country people, thinking 'What is this?', fell into great astonishment.

Verse 19 (13.34.19)

अथोवाच स राजर्षिः स्त्रीभूतो वदतांवरः । मृगयामस्मि निर्यातो बलैः परिवृतो दृढम् । उद्भान्तः प्राविशं घोरामटवीं दैवमोहितः ॥

athovāca sa rājarṣiḥ strībhūto vadatāṃvaraḥ | mṛgayāmasmi niryāto balaiḥ parivṛto dṛḍham | udbhāntaḥ prāviśaṃ ghorāmaṭavīṃ daivamohitaḥ

Then that royal sage, now a woman, best of speakers, said: 'I went out hunting, closely surrounded by my forces; bewildered, I strayed into a terrible forest, deluded by fate.

Verse 20 (13.34.20)

अटव्यां च सुघोरायां तृष्णार्तो नष्टचेतनः । सरः सुरुचिरप्रख्यमपश्यं पक्षिभिर्वृतम् ॥

aṭavyāṃ ca sughorāyāṃ tṛṣṇārto naṣṭacetanaḥ | saraḥ suruciraprakhyamapaśyaṃ pakṣibhirvṛtam

In that dreadful forest, tormented by thirst and out of my senses, I saw a lovely lake, thronged with birds.

Note on the text: Corrected सुघोंरायां → सुघोरायां (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara; CE reads 'sughorāyām'). Speaker: the whole verse is the king's direct speech, continuing from the previous verse, though the page has no new heading; given to Bhangasvana (as a woman).

Verse 21 (13.34.21)

तत्रावगाढः स्त्रीभूतो व्यक्तं दैवान्न संशयः । अतृप्त एव पुत्राणां दाराणां च धनस्य च ॥

tatrāvagāḍhaḥ strībhūto vyaktaṃ daivānna saṃśayaḥ | atṛpta eva putrāṇāṃ dārāṇāṃ ca dhanasya ca

Bathing there, I became a woman, plainly by fate, without doubt; and my longing for sons, wives, and wealth is left unsatisfied.'

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick and quote marks around line 2 and the doubled danda. Line 2 = CE 13.12.19c (CE 'atṛpta iva'). Speaker: the king's direct speech, continuing; the page has no new heading.

Verse 22 (13.34.22)

नामगोत्राणि चाभाष्य दाराणां मन्त्रिणां तथा । आह पुत्रांस्ततः सोऽथ स्त्रीभूतः पार्थिवोत्तमः । सम्प्रीत्या भुज्यतां राज्यं वनं यास्यामि पुत्रकाः ॥

nāmagotrāṇi cābhāṣya dārāṇāṃ mantriṇāṃ tathā | āha putrāṃstataḥ so'tha strībhūtaḥ pārthivottamaḥ | samprītyā bhujyatāṃ rājyaṃ vanaṃ yāsyāmi putrakāḥ

After making known his name and family to his wives and ministers, that best of kings, now a woman, said to his sons: 'Enjoy the kingdom with joy, my sons; I shall go to the forest.'

Note on the text: Corrected चाभाव्य → चाभाष्य (misprint in Wikisource; CE 'cābhāṣya'); पार्तिवोत्तमः → पार्थिवोत्तमः (CE 'pārthivottamaḥ'); and divided the run-together भुज्यतांराज्यं → भुज्यतां राज्यं. Line 1 = CE star line 13,012.019d*0066_01; lines 2-3 = CE 13.12.20a,c.

Verse 23 (13.34.23)

स पुत्राणां शतं राजा अभिषिच्य वनं गतः । गत्वा चैवाश्रमं सा तु तापसं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥

sa putrāṇāṃ śataṃ rājā abhiṣicya vanaṃ gataḥ | gatvā caivāśramaṃ sā tu tāpasaṃ pratyapadyata

The king consecrated his hundred sons and went to the forest. Reaching a hermitage, she accepted an ascetic as her husband.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.12.20e (cf. star 13,012.020f*0068_01); line 2 = CE 13.12.21a.

Verse 24 (13.34.24)

तापसेनास्य पुत्राणामाश्रमेष्वभवच्छतम् । अथ साऽऽदाय तान्सर्वान्पूर्वपुत्रानभाषत ॥

tāpasenāsya putrāṇāmāśrameṣvabhavacchatam | atha sā''dāya tānsarvānpūrvaputrānabhāṣata

By the ascetic, a hundred sons were born to her in the hermitages. Then she took them all and spoke to her earlier sons.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.12.21c, 22a.

Verse 25 (13.34.25)

पुरुषत्वे सुता यूयं स्त्रीत्वे चेमे शतं सुताः । एकत्र भुज्यतां राज्यं भ्रातृभावेन पुत्रकाः ॥

puruṣatve sutā yūyaṃ strītve ceme śataṃ sutāḥ | ekatra bhujyatāṃ rājyaṃ bhrātṛbhāvena putrakāḥ

'As a man, you were my sons; as a woman, these hundred are my sons. Enjoy the kingdom together, my sons, as brothers.'

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.12.22c, 23a.

Verse 26 (13.34.26)

सहिता भ्रातरस्तेऽथ राज्यं बुभुजिरे तदा ॥

sahitā bhrātaraste'tha rājyaṃ bubhujire tadā

Then the brothers, together, enjoyed the kingdom.

Note on the text: One-line verse as printed on the page (13-34-26a); = CE 13.12.23c.

Verse 27 (13.34.27)

तान्दृष्ट्वा भ्रातृभावेन भुञ्जानान्राज्यमुत्तमम् । चिन्तयामास देवेन्द्रो मन्युनाऽथ परिप्लुतः । उपकारोऽस्य राजर्षेः कृतो नापकृतं मया ॥

tāndṛṣṭvā bhrātṛbhāvena bhuñjānānrājyamuttamam | cintayāmāsa devendro manyunā'tha pariplutaḥ | upakāro'sya rājarṣeḥ kṛto nāpakṛtaṃ mayā

Seeing them enjoying that excellent kingdom in brotherly harmony, Indra, lord of the gods, was seized by resentment and thought: 'It is a favour I have done this royal sage, not an injury.'

Note on the text: Corrected भातृभावेन → भ्रातृभावेन (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र; CE 'bhrātṛbhāvena').

Verse 28 (13.34.28)

ततो ब्राह्मणरूपेण देवराजः शतक्रतुः । भेदयामास तान्गत्वा नगरं वै नृपात्मजान् ॥

tato brāhmaṇarūpeṇa devarājaḥ śatakratuḥ | bhedayāmāsa tāngatvā nagaraṃ vai nṛpātmajān

Then Indra, king of the gods, Shatakratu, took the form of a brahmin, went to the city, and set the king's sons against one another.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्मणरुपेण → ब्राह्मणरूपेण (misprint in Wikisource; short vowel for long; CE 'brāhmaṇarūpeṇa').

Verse 29 (13.34.29)

भ्रातृणां नास्ति सौभ्रात्रं येऽप्येकस्य पितुः सुताः । कश्यपस्य सुराश्चैव असुराश्च सुतास्तथा ॥

bhrātṛṇāṃ nāsti saubhrātraṃ ye'pyekasya pituḥ sutāḥ | kaśyapasya surāścaiva asurāśca sutāstathā

'Brothers have no real fellow-feeling, even when they are sons of one father. The gods and the asuras were alike sons of Kashyapa.

Note on the text: Corrected पितः → पितुः and असुराश्व → असुराश्च (misprints in Wikisource; CE 'pituḥ', 'asurāś ca'). Line 1 = CE 13.12.26a; line 2 = CE 13.12.27c. Speaker: the whole verse is Indra's speech in the brahmin's disguise (the page has no heading; it runs on under Bhishma).

Verse 30 (13.34.30)

राज्यहेतोर्विवदिताः कश्यपस्य सुरासुराः । यूयं भङ्गास्वनापत्यास्तापसस्येतरे सुताः ॥

rājyahetorvivaditāḥ kaśyapasya surāsurāḥ | yūyaṃ bhaṅgāsvanāpatyāstāpasasyetare sutāḥ

They quarrelled over kingship, the gods and the asuras, Kashyapa's sons. You are Bhangasvana's children, and the others are the ascetic's sons.'

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.12.26c; line 2 = CE 13.12.27a. The CE's line 13,012.027e ('yuṣmākaṃ paitṛkaṃ rājyaṃ bhujyate tāpasātmajaiḥ') is not in Wikisource. Speaker: Indra, in the brahmin's disguise (no heading on the page).

Verse 31 (13.34.31)

युष्माकं भेदितास्ते तु युद्धेऽन्योन्यमपातयन् । तच्छ्रुत्वा तापसी चापि संतप्ता प्ररुरोद ह ॥

yuṣmākaṃ bheditāste tu yuddhe'nyonyamapātayan | tacchrutvā tāpasī cāpi saṃtaptā praruroda ha

Those of you who were set at odds in this way struck one another down in battle. Hearing of it, the ascetic's wife too was stricken with grief and wept.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads युष्माकं भेदितास्ते तु where the CE has 'indreṇa bheditās te tu' (13.12.28a); recension variant, kept.

Verse 32 (13.34.32)

ब्राह्मणच्छद्मनाऽभ्येत्य तामिन्द्रोऽथान्वपृच्छत । केन दुःखेन संतप्ता रोदिषि त्वं वरानने ॥

brāhmaṇacchadmanā'bhyetya tāmindro'thānvapṛcchata | kena duḥkhena saṃtaptā rodiṣi tvaṃ varānane

Coming up in the guise of a brahmin, Indra asked her: 'In what sorrow do you weep so distressed, O fair-faced lady?'

Verse 33 (13.34.33)

ब्राह्मणं तं ततो दृष्ट्वा सा स्त्री करुणमब्रवीत् । पुत्राणां द्वे शते ब्रह्मन्कालेन विनिपातिते ॥

brāhmaṇaṃ taṃ tato dṛṣṭvā sā strī karuṇamabravīt | putrāṇāṃ dve śate brahmankālena vinipātite

Seeing that brahmin, the woman spoke piteously: 'O brahmin, two hundred of my sons have been struck down by time.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्म्णं → ब्राह्मणं (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct) and करणमब्रवीत् → करुणमब्रवीत् (CE 'karuṇam abravīt'; करण 'cause' does not fit the sense).

Verse 34 (13.34.34)

अहं राजाऽभवं विप्र तत्र पूर्वं शतं मम । समुत्पन्नं सुरूपाणां पुत्राणां ब्राह्मणोत्तम ॥

ahaṃ rājā'bhavaṃ vipra tatra pūrvaṃ śataṃ mama | samutpannaṃ surūpāṇāṃ putrāṇāṃ brāhmaṇottama

I was a king, O brahmin, and in that life I had a hundred handsome sons born to me, O best of brahmins.

Note on the text: Corrected राजाऽभव → राजाऽभवं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; CE 'rājābhavam'). Lines = CE 13.12.31a,c (CE 'vikrāntānāṃ' for सुरूपाणां in line 2). Speaker: the woman's direct speech, continuing from the previous verse (no new heading on the page).

Verse 35 (13.34.35)

कदाचिन्मृगयां यात उद्भ्रान्तो गहने वने । अवगाढश्च सरसि स्त्रीभूतो ब्राह्मणोत्तम ॥

kadācinmṛgayāṃ yāta udbhrānto gahane vane | avagāḍhaśca sarasi strībhūto brāhmaṇottama

Once, going hunting, I strayed into a dense forest and, plunging into a lake, became a woman, O best of brahmins.

Note on the text: Corrected उद्धान्तो → उद्भ्रान्तो (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; CE 'udbhrānto'). Lines = CE 13.12.32a,c. Speaker: the woman's direct speech (no heading on the page).

Verse 36 (13.34.36)

पुत्रान्राज्ये प्रतिष्ठाप्य वनमस्मि ततो गतः ॥

putrānrājye pratiṣṭhāpya vanamasmi tato gataḥ

Then, having set my sons on the throne, I went to the forest.

Note on the text: One-line verse as printed on the page (13-34-36a); = CE 13.12.32e. Speaker: the woman's direct speech (no heading on the page).

Verse 37 (13.34.37)

स्त्रियाश्च मे पुत्रशतं तापसेन महात्मना । आश्रमे जनितं ब्रह्मन्नीतं तन्नगरं मया ॥

striyāśca me putraśataṃ tāpasena mahātmanā | āśrame janitaṃ brahmannītaṃ tannagaraṃ mayā

There, too, by the great-souled ascetic, I bore a hundred sons in the hermitage, O brahmin, and I took them to the city.

Note on the text: Speaker: the woman's direct speech (no heading on the page).

Verse 38 (13.34.38)

तेषां च वैरमुत्पन्नं कालयोगेन वै द्विज । एतच्छोचाम्यहं ब्रह्मन्दैवेन समभिप्लुता ॥

teṣāṃ ca vairamutpannaṃ kālayogena vai dvija | etacchocāmyahaṃ brahmandaivena samabhiplutā

Enmity arose between them through the working of time, O twice-born. For this I grieve, O brahmin, overwhelmed by fate.'

Note on the text: Speaker: the woman's direct speech (no heading on the page).

Verse 39 (13.34.39)

इन्द्रस्तां दुःखितां दृष्ट्वा अब्रवीत्परुषं वचः ॥

indrastāṃ duḥkhitāṃ dṛṣṭvā abravītparuṣaṃ vacaḥ

Seeing her so distressed, Indra spoke harsh words to her.

Note on the text: Corrected दुःशितां → दुःखितां (misprint in Wikisource; CE 'duḥkhitām'). One-line verse as printed on the page (13-34-39a); = CE 13.12.35a.

Verse 40 (13.34.40)

पुरा सुदुःसहं भद्रे मम दुःखं त्वया कृतम् । इन्द्रद्विष्टेन यजता मामनाहूय धिष्ठितम् । इन्द्रोऽहमस्मि दुर्बुद्धे वैरं ते पातितं मया ॥

purā suduḥsahaṃ bhadre mama duḥkhaṃ tvayā kṛtam | indradviṣṭena yajatā māmanāhūya dhiṣṭhitam | indro'hamasmi durbuddhe vairaṃ te pātitaṃ mayā

'Long ago, good lady, you caused me a grief most hard to bear: while sacrificing with the rite that Indra detests, you carried it out without invoking me. I am Indra, you fool; I have brought your enmity down upon you.'

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.12.35c; lines 2-3 correspond to CE 13.12.36a,c with variant wording (Wikisource 'मामनाहूय धिष्ठितम्', 'वैरं ते पातितं मया' against CE 'mām anādṛtya durmate', 'vairaṃ te yātitaṃ mayā'); kept. Speaker: the whole verse is Indra's speech (the page has no new heading).

Verse 41 (13.34.41)

इन्द्रं दृष्ट्वा तु राजर्षिः पादयोः शिरसा गतः । प्रसीद त्रिदशश्रेष्ठ पुत्रकामेन स क्रतुः । इष्टस्त्रिदशशार्दूल तत्र मे क्षन्तुमर्हसि ॥

indraṃ dṛṣṭvā tu rājarṣiḥ pādayoḥ śirasā gataḥ | prasīda tridaśaśreṣṭha putrakāmena sa kratuḥ | iṣṭastridaśaśārdūla tatra me kṣantumarhasi

Seeing Indra, the royal sage fell at his feet, bowing her head: 'Be gracious, best of the gods! That sacrifice was offered out of desire for a son; for that, O tiger among the gods, you should forgive me.'

Verse 42 (13.34.42)

प्रणिपातेन तस्येन्द्रः परितुष्टो वरं ददौ ॥

praṇipātena tasyendraḥ parituṣṭo varaṃ dadau

Pleased by his humble prostration, Indra granted a boon.

Note on the text: One-line verse as printed on the page (13-34-42a); = CE 13.12.38a.

Verse 43 (13.34.43)

पुत्रास्ते कतमे राजञ्जीवन्त्वेतत्प्रचक्ष्व मे । स्त्रीभूतस्य हि ये जाताः पुरुषस्याथ येऽभवन् ॥

putrāste katame rājañjīvantvetatpracakṣva me | strībhūtasya hi ye jātāḥ puruṣasyātha ye'bhavan

'Which of your sons shall live, O king? Tell me that: those born to you when you had become a woman, or those who were born to you as a man?'

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.12.38c,e. Speaker: the whole verse is Indra's question (the page has no new heading).

Verse 44 (13.34.44)

तापसी तु ततः शक्रमुवाच प्रयताञ्जलिः । स्त्रीभूतस्य हि ये पुत्रास्ते मे जीवन्तु वासव ॥

tāpasī tu tataḥ śakramuvāca prayatāñjaliḥ | strībhūtasya hi ye putrāste me jīvantu vāsava

Then the ascetic's wife, with joined palms, said to Shakra: 'Let those who were born to me as a woman live, O Vasava.'

Verse 45 (13.34.45)

इन्द्रस्तु विस्मितो दृष्ट्वा स्त्रियं पप्रच्छ तां पुनः । पुरुषोत्पादिता ये ते कथं द्वेष्याः सुतास्तव ॥

indrastu vismito dṛṣṭvā striyaṃ papraccha tāṃ punaḥ | puruṣotpāditā ye te kathaṃ dveṣyāḥ sutāstava

Astonished, Indra looked at the woman and asked her again: 'Why are the sons you begot as a man hateful to you?

Verse 46 (13.34.46)

स्त्रीभूतस्य हि ये जाताः स्नेहस्तेभ्योऽधिकः कथम् । कारणं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तन्मे वक्तुमिहार्हसि ॥

strībhūtasya hi ye jātāḥ snehastebhyo'dhikaḥ katham | kāraṇaṃ śrotumicchāmi tanme vaktumihārhasi

How is it that your affection is greater for those born after you became a woman? I wish to hear the reason; you should tell it to me.'

Note on the text: Speaker: the whole verse is Indra's question (the page has no new heading).

Verse 47 (13.34.47)

स्त्रियास्त्वभ्यधिकः स्नेहो न तथा पुरुषस्य वै । तस्मात्ते शक्र जीवन्तु ये जाताः स्त्रीकृतस्य वै ॥

striyāstvabhyadhikaḥ sneho na tathā puruṣasya vai | tasmātte śakra jīvantu ye jātāḥ strīkṛtasya vai

'A woman's affection is greater; a man's is not so. Therefore, Shakra, let those live who were born to me after I was made a woman.'

Note on the text: Corrected न तता → न तथा (misprint in Wikisource; CE 'na tathā').

Verse 48 (13.34.48)

एवमुक्तस्ततस्त्विन्द्रः प्रीतो वाक्यमुवाच ह । सर्व एवेह जीवन्तु पुत्रास्ते सत्यवादिनि ॥

evamuktastatastvindraḥ prīto vākyamuvāca ha | sarva eveha jīvantu putrāste satyavādini

Thus addressed, Indra was pleased and said: 'Let all your sons live, you truthful woman.

Verse 49 (13.34.49)

वरं च वृणु राजेन्द्र यं त्वमिच्छसि सुव्रत । पुरुषत्वमथ स्त्रीत्वं मत्तो यदभिकाङ्क्षसे ॥

varaṃ ca vṛṇu rājendra yaṃ tvamicchasi suvrata | puruṣatvamatha strītvaṃ matto yadabhikāṅkṣase

And choose a boon, O king of kings, whatever you wish, good one: manhood or womanhood, whichever you desire from me.'

Note on the text: Speaker: the whole verse is Indra's speech (the page has no new heading).

Verse 50 (13.34.50)

स्त्रीत्वमेव वृणे शक्र पुंस्त्वं नेच्छामि वासव । एवमुक्तस्तु देवेन्द्रस्तां स्त्रियं प्रत्युवाच ह ॥

strītvameva vṛṇe śakra puṃstvaṃ necchāmi vāsava | evamuktastu devendrastāṃ striyaṃ pratyuvāca ha

'I choose womanhood alone, Shakra; I do not want manhood, Vasava.' Thus addressed, the lord of the gods said to that woman:

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.12.45a; line 2 (narration) = CE 13.12.46a. The speaker heading 'स्त्र्युवाच' (13-34-50x) is printed before this verse; the second line is the narrator's tag.

Verse 51 (13.34.51)

पुरुषत्वं कथं त्यक्त्वा स्त्रीत्वं रोचयसे विभो । एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच स्त्रीभूतो राजसत्तमः ॥

puruṣatvaṃ kathaṃ tyaktvā strītvaṃ rocayase vibho | evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca strībhūto rājasattamaḥ

'Why do you, having given up manhood, prefer womanhood, O lord?' Thus addressed, the royal sage, now a woman, replied:

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.12.46c; line 2 = CE 13.12.47a. Speaker: line 1 is Indra's question and line 2 the narrator's tag, so the verse is given to Bhishma (the narrator); the input carried it over from the woman's heading.

Verse 52 (13.34.52)

स्त्रियाः पुरुषसंयोगे प्रीतिरभ्यधिका सदा । एतस्मात्कारणाच्छक्र स्त्रीत्वमेव वृणोम्यहम् ॥

striyāḥ puruṣasaṃyoge prītirabhyadhikā sadā | etasmātkāraṇācchakra strītvameva vṛṇomyaham

'A woman's pleasure in union with a man is always greater. For this reason, Shakra, I choose womanhood alone.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.12.47c,e.

Verse 53 (13.34.53)

रमे चाधिकं स्त्रीत्वे सत्यं वै देवसत्तम । स्त्रीभावेन हि तुष्यामि गम्यतां त्रिदशाधिप ॥

rame cādhikaṃ strītve satyaṃ vai devasattama | strībhāvena hi tuṣyāmi gamyatāṃ tridaśādhipa

In truth, best of the gods, I delight all the more in womanhood. I am content with the woman's state; you may go, lord of the gods.'

Note on the text: Corrected रमाभि चाधिकं → रमे चाधिकं (misprint in Wikisource; CE 'rame caivādhikam'; 'रमाभि' is not a word in this context). Lines = CE 13.12.48a,c.

Verse 54 (13.34.54)

एवमस्त्विति चोक्त्वा तामापृच्छ्य त्रिदिवं गतः । एवं स्त्रिया महाराज अधिका प्रीतिरुच्यते ॥

evamastviti coktvā tāmāpṛcchya tridivaṃ gataḥ | evaṃ striyā mahārāja adhikā prītirucyate

Saying 'So be it' and taking leave of her, Indra went to heaven. In this way, great king, a woman's pleasure is said to be the greater.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected to Bhishma: line 1 is narration and line 2 is Bhishma's closing remark; the input carried over the woman's speaker.