Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच स्त्रीपुंसयोः संप्रयोगे स्पर्शः कस्याधिको भवेत् एतन्मे संशयं राजन्यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said You should, O king, tell me truly which of the two, viz., man or woman, gets the greater pleasure from an act of union with each other. Kindly remove my doubt it.
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् भङ्गाश्वनेन शक्रस्य यथा वैरमभूत्पुरा
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said To illustrate this question, the old discourse between Bhangasvana and Shakra is cited in this connection.
पुरा भङ्गाश्वनो नाम राजर्षिरतिधार्मिकः अपुत्रः स नरव्याघ्र पुत्रार्थं यज्ञमाहरत्
M. N. Dutt: In days of old there lived a king name Bhangasvana. He was very pious and was known as a royal sage. He was, however, childless, O king, and, therefore, made a sacrifice from desire of getting a son.
अग्निष्टुं नाम राजर्षिरिन्द्रद्विष्टं महाबलः प्रायश्चित्तेषु मर्त्यानां पुत्रकामस्य चेष्यते
M. N. Dutt: The sacrifice which that powerful king celebrated was Agnishtuta, which on account of the god of fire being alone worshipped in it, is always disliked by Indra. Yet it is the sacrifice that is desired by men when for the object of getting children they seek to purify themselves of their sins.
इन्द्रो ज्ञात्वा तु तं यज्ञं महाभागः सुरेश्वरः अन्तरं तस्य राजर्षेरन्विच्छन्नियतात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Learning that the king was desirous of performing the Agnishtuta, the highly blessed king of the gods, viz., Indra, began from that moment to look for the shortcomings of that royal sage to well controlled soul.
Supplementary Passages:
13.12.5 After 5, N (except D3) ins.: *64 न चैवास्यान्तरं राजन्स ददर्श महात्मनः
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य मृगयामटतो नृप इदमन्तरमित्येव शक्रो नृपममोहयत्
AI Translation: Then, after some time, the king, while wandering in the forest, Shakra, in the form of a deer, deceived the king, saying, "This is the distance."
एकाश्वेन च राजर्षिर्भ्रान्त इन्द्रेण मोहितः न दिशोऽविन्दत नृपः क्षुत्पिपासार्दितस्तदा
AI Translation: The king, the sage, was wandering on a single horse, deluded by Indra. The king, afflicted by hunger and thirst, could not find the directions at that time.
इतश्चेतश्च वै धावञ्श्रमतृष्णार्दितो नृपः सरोऽपश्यत्सुरुचिरं पूर्णं परमवारिणा सोऽवगाह्य सरस्तात पाययामास वाजिनम्
M. N. Dutt: He then saw a lake that was highly beautiful and was full of transparent water. Descending from his horse, and plunging into the lake, he made his animal to drink.
अथ पीतोदकं सोऽश्वं वृक्षे बद्ध्वा नृपोत्तमः अवगाह्य ततः स्नातो राजा स्त्रीत्वमवाप ह
M. N. Dutt: Tying his horse then, whose thirst had been satisfied, to a tree, the king plunged into the lake again for doing his ablutions. To his surprise he found that he was metamorphosed by virtue of the waters, into a woman.
आत्मानं स्त्रीकृतं दृष्ट्वा व्रीडितो नृपसत्तमः चिन्तानुगतसर्वात्मा व्याकुलेन्द्रियचेतनः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing himself thus changed in respect of sex itself, the king became filled with shame. With his senses and mind completely agitated, he began to think thus with his whole heart.
आरोहिष्ये कथं त्वश्वं कथं यास्यामि वै पुरम् अग्निष्टुं नाम इष्टं मे पुत्राणां शतमौरसम्
AI Translation: How shall I mount the horse? How shall I go to the city? My sacrifice named Agniṣṭu has been performed, and I have a hundred sons born of my own body.
जातं महाबलानां वै तान्प्रवक्ष्यामि किं त्वहम् दारेषु चास्मदीयेषु पौरजानपदेषु च
AI Translation: I shall tell you about the birth of the mighty ones. And about our wives and the citizens and the people.
मृदुत्वं च तनुत्वं च विक्लवत्वं तथैव च स्त्रीगुणा ऋषिभिः प्रोक्ता धर्मतत्त्वार्थदर्शिभिः व्यायामः कर्कशत्वं च वीर्यं च पुरुषे गुणाः
M. N. Dutt: Rishis versed in the truths of duty and religion and other matters say that mildness and softness and susceptibility to extreme agitation are the characteristics of women, and that activity, hardness, and energy are the characteristics of men. Alas, my manliness is gone! For why has femininity possessed me? On account of this change of sex, how shall I succeed in riding my horse again?
Supplementary Passages:
13.12.13 After 13ab, T3 G ins.: *65 हावभावादिलावण्यस्त्रीगुणाद्वा कुतूहलम्
पौरुषं विप्रनष्टं मे स्त्रीत्वं केनापि मेऽभवत् स्त्रीभावात्कथमश्वं तु पुनरारोढुमुत्सहे
AI Translation: My manhood has been lost, and I have become a woman. How can I, being a woman, again desire to mount a horse?
महता त्वथ खेदेन आरुह्याश्वं नराधिपः पुनरायात्पुरं तात स्त्रीभूतो नृपसत्तम
AI Translation: Then, with great effort, the king, having mounted the horse, returned to the city, O son, having become a woman, O best of kings.
पुत्रा दाराश्च भृत्याश्च पौरजानपदाश्च ते किं न्विदं त्विति विज्ञाय विस्मयं परमं गताः
AI Translation: Your sons, wives, servants, citizens and countrymen having understood this, were filled with great wonder.
अथोवाच स राजर्षिः स्त्रीभूतो वदतां वरः मृगयामस्मि निर्यातो बलैः परिवृतो दृढम् उद्भ्रान्तः प्राविशं घोरामटवीं दैवमोहितः
M. N. Dutt: In that terrible forest, I became very much thirsty and lost my senses. I then saw a beautiful lake abounding with fowl of all sorts.
अटव्यां च सुघोरायां तृष्णार्तो नष्टचेतनः सरः सुरुचिरप्रख्यमपश्यं पक्षिभिर्वृतम्
AI Translation: In a very terrible forest, thirsty and unconscious, I saw a lake, beautiful like the moon, surrounded by birds.
तत्रावगाढः स्त्रीभूतो व्यक्तं दैवान्न संशयः अतृप्त इव पुत्राणां दाराणां च धनस्य च
AI Translation: There, immersed, he became a woman, clearly by fate, no doubt. Like one not satisfied with sons, wives, and wealth,
Supplementary Passages:
13.12.19 For 19cd, V1 B Dn D10 subst.: *66 नामगोत्राणि चाभाष्य दाराणां मन्त्रिणां तथा
उवाच पुत्रांश्च ततः स्त्रीभूतः पार्थिवोत्तमः संप्रीत्या भुज्यतां राज्यं वनं यास्यामि पुत्रकाः अभिषिच्य स पुत्राणां शतं राजा वनं गतः
M. N. Dutt: Having said thus to his children, the king went to the forest. Arrived there, she arrived at a hermitage inhabited by an ascetic.
Supplementary Passages:
13.12.20 For 20ef, V1 B Dn D5.10 subst.: *67 एवमुक्त्वा पुत्रशतं वनमेव जगाम ह While, S subst. for 20ef: *68 स पुत्राणां शतं राजा अभिषिच्य वनं गतः
तामाश्रमे स्त्रियं तात तापसोऽभ्यवपद्यत तापसेनास्य पुत्राणामाश्रमेऽप्यभवच्छतम्
AI Translation: In the hermitage, O son, the ascetic approached that woman. In the hermitage of that ascetic, a hundred sons were born to him.
अथ सा तान्सुतान्गृह्य पूर्वपुत्रानभाषत पुरुषत्वे सुता यूयं स्त्रीत्वे चेमे शतं सुताः
AI Translation: Then she took those sons, her former sons, and said: "You are sons in the state of a man, and these are a hundred sons in the state of a woman."
एकत्र भुज्यतां राज्यं भ्रातृभावेन पुत्रकाः सहिता भ्रातरस्तेऽथ राज्यं बुभुजिरे तदा
AI Translation: "O sons, let the kingdom be enjoyed by you all as brothers." Then those brothers, united, enjoyed the kingdom.
तान्दृष्ट्वा भ्रातृभावेन भुञ्जानान्राज्यमुत्तमम् चिन्तयामास देवेन्द्रो मन्युनाभिपरिप्लुतः उपकारोऽस्य राजर्षेः कृतो नापकृतं मया
M. N. Dutt: Saying this, the king of the gods, viz., Indra of a hundred sacrifices, assuming the form of a Brahmana, went to the capital of the king and meeting all the children succeeded in creating dissensions amongst them.
ततो ब्राह्मणरूपेण देवराजः शतक्रतुः भेदयामास तान्गत्वा नगरं वै नृपात्मजान्
M. N. Dutt: He said to them, Brothers never remain at peace even when they are the children of the same father. The sons of the sage Kashyapa, viz., the gods and the Asuras, fell out with each other on account of the sovereignty of the three worlds.
भ्रातॄणां नास्ति सौभ्रात्रं येऽप्येकस्य पितुः सुताः राज्यहेतोर्विवदिताः कश्यपस्य सुरासुराः
M. N. Dutt: As regards you princes, you are the children of the royal sage Bhangasvana. These others are the children of an ascetic. The gods and the Asuras are children of even one common father.
यूयं भङ्गाश्वनापत्यास्तापसस्येतरे सुताः कश्यपस्य सुराश्चैव असुराश्च सुतास्तथा युष्माकं पैतृकं राज्यं भुज्यते तापसात्मजैः
M. N. Dutt: This kingdom, your paternal property is being enjoyed by these children of an ascetic with these words, Indra succeeded in creating disunion amongst them, so that they very soon engaged in battle and killed each other.
इन्द्रेण भेदितास्ते तु युद्धेऽन्योन्यमपातयन् तच्छ्रुत्वा तापसी चापि संतप्ता प्ररुरोद ह
AI Translation: Indra had separated them and they had fallen on each other in battle. Hearing this, the ascetic woman was distressed and wept.
ब्राह्मणच्छद्मनाभ्येत्य तामिन्द्रोऽथान्वपृच्छत केन दुःखेन संतप्ता रोदिषि त्वं वरानने
AI Translation: Having approached her in the guise of a brahmin, Indra then asked her: "By what sorrow are you tormented, O you of beautiful face, that you weep?"
ब्राह्मणं तु ततो दृष्ट्वा सा स्त्री करुणमब्रवीत् पुत्राणां द्वे शते ब्रह्मन्कालेन विनिपातिते
AI Translation: Seeing the brahmin, the woman said compassionately: "O brahmin, two hundred of my sons have been killed by time.
अहं राजाभवं विप्र तत्र पुत्रशतं मया समुत्पन्नं सुरूपाणां विक्रान्तानां द्विजोत्तम
AI Translation: O Brahmin, I was a king there, and I had a hundred sons, born of beautiful and valorous women.
कदाचिन्मृगयां यात उद्भ्रान्तो गहने वने अवगाढश्च सरसि स्त्रीभूतो ब्राह्मणोत्तम पुत्रान्राज्ये प्रतिष्ठाप्य वनमस्मि ततो गतः
M. N. Dutt: Changed into a woman, I bore a hundred sons to my husband who is a great ascetic. All of them were born in the ascetic's retreat. I took them to the capital.
स्त्रियाश्च मे पुत्रशतं तापसेन महात्मना आश्रमे जनितं ब्रह्मन्नीतास्ते नगरं मया
M. N. Dutt: My children, through the influence of time, fell out with each other, O twiceborn one! Thus afflicted by Destiny, I am bewailing.
तेषां च वैरमुत्पन्नं कालयोगेन वै द्विज एतच्छोचामि विप्रेन्द्र दैवेनाभिपरिप्लुता
M. N. Dutt: Indra addressed him in these harsh words In former days, O lady, you gave me great pain, for you did perform a sacrifice that is disliked by Indra.
इन्द्रस्तां दुःखितां दृष्ट्वा अब्रवीत्परुषं वचः पुरा सुदुःसहं भद्रे मम दुःखं त्वया कृतम्
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, though I was present, you did not invoke me with honours. I am that Indra, O you of wicked understanding! It is I with whom you sought hostilities.
इन्द्रद्विष्टेन यजता मामनादृत्य दुर्मते इन्द्रोऽहमस्मि दुर्बुद्धे वैरं ते यातितं मया
M. N. Dutt: Seeing Indra, the royal sage fell at his feet, touching them with his head, and said Be pleased with me, O foremost of gods. The sacrifice of which you speak was performed from a desire of offspring.
इन्द्रं तु दृष्ट्वा राजर्षिः पादयोः शिरसा गतः प्रसीद त्रिदशश्रेष्ठ पुत्रकामेन स क्रतुः इष्टस्त्रिदशशार्दूल तत्र मे क्षन्तुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: You should, therefore, pardon me. Seeing the transformed king prostrate himself thus to him, Indra became pleased with him and wished to give him a boon.
Supplementary Passages:
13.12.37 After 37, B4 ins.: *69 इन्द्रः सुरपतिश्चैव वज्रहस्तो महाबलः ऐरावतगजारूढः सहस्राक्ष नमोऽस्तु ते
प्रणिपातेन तस्येन्द्रः परितुष्टो वरं ददौ पुत्रा वै कतमे राजञ्जीवन्तु तव शंस मे स्त्रीभूतस्य हि ये जाताः पुरुषस्याथ येऽभवन्
AI Translation: Indra was pleased with his prostration and granted him a boon. "O king, tell me, which of your sons are alive? "For those born as women and those born as men,
तापसी तु ततः शक्रमुवाच प्रयताञ्जलिः स्त्रीभूतस्य हि ये जातास्ते मे जीवन्तु वासव
M. N. Dutt: Filled with wonder at this reply. Indra once more asked the lady Why do you cherish less affection for those children of yours who were begotten by you as a man?
इन्द्रस्तु विस्मितो हृष्टः स्त्रियं पप्रच्छ तां पुनः पुरुषोत्पादिता ये ते कथं द्वेष्याः सुतास्तव
M. N. Dutt: Why is it that you love more those children that were borne by you in your changed state? I wish to hear the reason of this difference in your love. You should tell me everything.
स्त्रीभूतस्य हि ये जाताः स्नेहस्तेभ्योऽधिकः कथम् कारणं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तन्मे वक्तुमिहार्हसि
M. N. Dutt: The lady said The affection that is cherished by a woman is much greater than that which is cherished by a man. Therefore, O Shakra, I wish those children to revive that were borne by me as a woman.
स्त्र्युवाच स्त्रियास्त्वभ्यधिकः स्नेहो न तथा पुरुषस्य वै तस्मात्ते शक्र जीवन्तु ये जाताः स्त्रीकृतस्य वै
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Thus addressed, Indra became highly pleased and said to her O truthful lady, let all your children come back into life.
भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्ते ततस्त्विन्द्रः प्रीतो वाक्यमुवाच ह सर्व एवेह जीवन्तु पुत्रास्ते सत्यवादिनि
M. N. Dutt: Do you take another boon, o foremost of kings whatever you like, O you of excellent vcws. Do you take from me whatever dignity you choose, that of woman or of man.
वरं च वृणु राजेन्द्र यं त्वमिच्छसि सुव्रत पुरुषत्वमथ स्त्रीत्वं मत्तो यदभिकाङ्क्षसि
AI Translation: O best of kings, O you of good vows, choose a boon, whatever you desire. Whether you desire to be a man or a woman from me.
स्त्र्युवाच स्त्रीत्वमेव वृणे शक्र प्रसन्ने त्वयि वासव
AI Translation: The woman said: O Indra, I choose to be a woman, O Indra, when you are pleased.
एवमुक्तस्तु देवेन्द्रस्तां स्त्रियं प्रत्युवाच ह पुरुषत्वं कथं त्यक्त्वा स्त्रीत्वं रोचयसे विभो
AI Translation: Thus addressed, the lord of the gods replied to that woman: "How can you, O lord, abandon your masculinity and desire femininity?"
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच स्त्रीभूतो राजसत्तमः स्त्रियाः पुरुषसंयोगे प्रीतिरभ्यधिका सदा एतस्मात्कारणाच्छक्र स्त्रीत्वमेव वृणोम्यहम्
AI Translation: Thus addressed, the best of kings, in the form of a woman, replied: "The woman always has greater affection in union with a man. " For this reason, O Shakra, I choose to be a woman.
रमे चैवाधिकं स्त्रीत्वे सत्यं वै देवसत्तम स्त्रीभावेन हि तुष्टोऽस्मि गम्यतां त्रिदशाधिप
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of the gods, truly do I say to you that I derive greater pleasure in my present state of womanhood. I am quite content with this state of womanhood that I now have. Do you leave me now, O king of heaven.
एवमस्त्विति चोक्त्वा तामापृच्छ्य त्रिदिवं गतः एवं स्त्रिया महाराज अधिका प्रीतिरुच्यते
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words of hers, the lord of the gods answered So be it and bidding her farewell, went to heaven. Thus, o king, it is known that woman derives much greater pleasure than men under the circumstances you have asked.