Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.34
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13.34.1
स्त्रीपुंसयोः सम्प्रयोगे स्पर्शः कस्याधिको भवेत् ।
एतस्मिन्संशये राजन्यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि ॥ १३.३४.१ ॥
In the union of woman and man, whose touch is greater? O king, you ought to explain this doubt as it truly is.
13.34.2
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
भङ्गास्वनेन शक्रस्य यथा वैरमभूत्पुरा ॥ १३.३४.२ ॥
Here too they cite this ancient story of how enmity once arose between Indra and Bhaṅgāsvana.
13.34.3
पुरा भङ्गास्वनो नाम राजर्षिरतिधार्मिकः ।
अपुत्रः पुरुषव्याघ्र पुत्रार्थं यज्ञमाहरत् ॥ १३.३४.३ ॥
Formerly there was a royal sage named Bhaṅgāsvana, most righteous. O tiger among men, being without offspring, he performed a sacrifice for the sake of a son.
13.34.4
अग्निष्टुतं स राजर्षिरिन्द्रद्विष्टं महाबलः ।
प्रायश्चित्तेषु मर्त्यानां पुत्रकामेषु चेष्यते ॥ १३.३४.४ ॥
That mighty royal sage performed the Agniṣṭuta sacrifice, which was hateful to Indra; it is performed as an expiation by mortals who desire sons.
13.34.5
इन्द्रो ज्ञात्वा तु तं यज्ञं महाभागः सुरेश्वरः ।
अन्तरं तस्य राजर्षेरन्विच्छन्नियतात्मनः।
न चैवास्यान्तरं राजन्स ददर्श महात्मनः ॥ १३.३४.५ ॥
Indra, lord of the gods, greatly fortunate, knew of that sacrifice and sought an opening in that royal sage of controlled self; O king, yet he found no opening in that great-souled one.
13.34.6
कस्य चित्त्वथ कालस्य मृगयां गतवान्नृपः ।
इदमन्तरमित्येव शक्रो नृपममोहयत् ॥ १३.३४.६ ॥
Then at some time, when the king had gone hunting, Indra, thinking 'this is the opening', deluded the king.
13.34.7
एकाश्वेन च राजर्षिर्भ्रान्त इन्द्रेण मोहितः ।
न दिशोऽविन्दत नृपः क्षुत्पिपासार्दितस्तदा ॥ १३.३४.७ ॥
Bewildered and deluded by Indra, the royal sage, riding a single horse, could not find his directions, afflicted then by hunger and thirst.
13.34.8
इतश्चेतश्च धावन्वै श्रमतृष्णार्दितो नृप ।
सरोऽपश्यत्सुरुचिरं पूर्णं परमवारिणा ॥ १३.३४.८ ॥
Running here and there, afflicted by weariness and thirst, O king, he saw a very lovely lake filled with excellent water.
13.34.9
सोऽवगाह्य सरस्तात पाययामास वाजिनम् ॥ १३.३४.९ ॥
Having entered the lake, dear son, he made the horse drink.
13.34.10
अथ पीतोदकं सोऽश्वं वृक्षे बद्ध्वा नृपोत्तमः ।
अवगाह्य ततः स्नातस्तत्र स्त्रीत्वमवाप्तवान् ॥ १३.३४.१० ॥
Then, having made the horse drink and tied it to a tree, the best of kings entered the lake, bathed, and there he attained womanhood.
13.34.11
आत्मानं स्त्रीकृतं दृष्ट्वा व्रीडितो नृपसत्तमः ।
चिन्तानुगतसर्वात्मा व्याकुलेन्द्रियचेतनः ॥ १३.३४.११ ॥
Seeing himself made a woman, the best of kings was ashamed; his whole self beset by anxious thought, his senses and mind confused.
13.34.12
आरोहिष्ये कथं त्वश्वं कथं यास्यामि वै पुरम् ।
इष्टेनाग्निष्टुता चापि पुत्राणां शतमौरसम् ॥ १३.३४.१२ ॥
"How shall I mount the horse? How shall I go to the city?" Though he had a hundred sons born of his own body, obtained through sacrifices and fire-praises, he lamented.
13.34.13
जातं महाबलानां मे तान्प्रवक्ष्यामि किन्नवहम् ।
दारेषु चात्मकीयेषु पौरजानपदेषु च ॥ १३.३४.१३ ॥
What shall I tell them of the birth of my mighty sons? Among my wives, among my own people, and among the townsfolk and countryfolk, (the news spread).
13.34.14
मृदुत्वं च तनुत्वं च पराधीनत्वमेव च ।
हासभावादि लावण्यं स्त्रीगुणाद्वा कुतूहलम्।
स्त्रीगुणा ऋषिभिः प्रोक्ता धर्मतत्त्वार्थदर्शिभिः ॥ १३.३४.१४ ॥
Softness, slenderness, dependence on others, laughter and such emotional manners, grace, or curiosity arising from feminine qualities: these the sages who see the truth and meaning of dharma have declared to be the qualities of women.
13.34.15
व्यायामः कर्कशत्वं च वीर्यं च पुरुषे गुणाः ॥ १३.३४.१५ ॥
Exertion, hardness, and valour: these are the qualities of a man.
13.34.16
पौरुषं विप्रनष्टं स्त्रीत्वं केनापि मेऽभवत् ।
स्त्रीभावात्पुनरश्वं तं कथमारोढुमुत्सहे ॥ १३.३४.१६ ॥
My manhood has been utterly lost, and by some means womanhood has come upon me. How can I, in a woman's form, dare to mount that horse?
13.34.17
महता त्वथ खेदेन आरुह्याश्वं नराधिपः ।
पुनरायात्पुरं तात स्त्रीभूतो नृपसत्तमः। ॥ १३.३४.१७ ॥
Then, dear one, with great distress, having mounted that horse, the lord of men, the best of kings, returned to the city, having become a woman.
13.34.18
पुत्रा दाराश्च भृत्याश्च पौरजानपदाश्च ते ।
किन्न्विदं त्विति विज्ञाय विस्मयं परमं गताः ॥ १३.३४.१८ ॥
The sons, the wives, the servants, and the townsfolk and countryfolk, learning of it, saying "What is this?", were struck with supreme astonishment.
13.34.19
अथोवाच स राजर्षिः स्त्रीभूतो वदतांवरः ।
मृगयामस्मि निर्यातो बलैः परिवृतो दृढम्।
उद्भान्तः प्राविशं घोरामटवीं दैवमोहितः ॥ १३.३४.१९ ॥
Then that royal sage, become a woman, the best of speakers, said: Surrounded firmly by my troops, I set out to hunt; wandering astray, deluded by fate, I entered that terrible forest.
13.34.20
अटव्यां च सुघोंरायां तृष्णार्तो नष्टचेतनः ।
सरः सुरुचिरप्रख्यमपश्यं पक्षिभिर्वृतम् ॥ १३.३४.२० ॥
And in that very terrible forest, tormented by thirst, with my mind confused, I saw a lake of great beauty, covered with birds.
13.34.21
तत्रावगाढः स्त्रीभूतो व्यक्तं दैवान्न संशयः ।
अतृप्त एव पुत्राणां दाराणां च धनस्य च ॥ १३.३४.२१ ॥
Having plunged into it there, I became a woman by fate, clearly, without doubt; I was still unsatisfied with sons, wives and wealth.
13.34.22
नामगोत्राणि चाभाव्य दाराणां मन्त्रिणां तथा ।
आह पुत्रांस्ततः सोऽथ स्त्रीभूतः पार्तिवोत्तमः।
सम्प्रीत्या भुज्यतांराज्यं वनं यास्यामि पुत्रकाः ॥ १३.३४.२२ ॥
Then, having considered the names and lineages of wives and ministers as well, that best of kings, now a woman, said to his sons: Dear sons, enjoy the kingdom with affection; I shall go to the forest.
13.34.23
स पुत्राणां शतं राजा अभिषिच्य वनं गतः ।
गत्वा चैवाश्रमं सा तु तापसं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ १३.३४.२३ ॥
That king, having consecrated his hundred sons, went to the forest; and she, having gone to a hermitage, attained an ascetic.
13.34.24
तापसेनास्य पुत्राणामाश्रमेष्वभवच्छतम् ।
अथ साऽऽदाय तान्सर्वान्पूर्वपुत्रानभाषत ॥ १३.३४.२४ ॥
By that ascetic, in the hermitages, she had a hundred sons; then, taking all of them, she spoke to her former sons.
13.34.25
पुरुषत्वे सुता यूयं स्त्रीत्वे चेमे शतं सुताः ।
एकत्र भुज्यतां राज्यं भ्रातृभावेन पुत्रकाः ॥ १३.३४.२५ ॥
In the male form you are sons, and in the female form these hundred are sons. Sons, enjoy the kingdom together in the spirit of brotherhood.
13.34.26
सहिता भ्रातरस्तेऽथ राज्यं बुभुजिरे तदा ॥ १३.३४.२६ ॥
Then those brothers, together, enjoyed the kingdom.
13.34.27
तान्दृष्ट्वा भातृभावेन भुञ्जानान्राज्यमुत्तमम् ।
चिन्तयामास देवेन्द्रो मन्युनाऽथ परिप्लुतः।
उपकारोऽस्य राजर्षेः कृतो नापकृतं मया ॥ १३.३४.२७ ॥
Seeing them enjoying the excellent kingdom in brotherly spirit, Indra, lord of the gods, overcome with anger, reflected: "I have done no kindness to this royal sage, and no harm either."
13.34.28
ततो ब्राह्मणरुपेण देवराजः शतक्रतुः ।
भेदयामास तान्गत्वा नगरं वै नृपात्मजान् ॥ १३.३४.२८ ॥
Then, in the form of a brahmin, the king of the gods, Śatakratu, went to the city and sowed discord among those princes.
13.34.29
भ्रातृणां नास्ति सौभ्रात्रं येऽप्येकस्य पितः सुताः ।
कश्यपस्य सुराश्चैव असुराश्व सुतास्तथा। ॥ १३.३४.२९ ॥
Among brothers, even sons of one father, there is no brotherly affection; so too the gods and demons, the sons of Kaśyapa.
13.34.30
राज्यहेतोर्विवदिताः कश्यपस्य सुरासुराः ।
यूयं भङ्गास्वनापत्यास्तापसस्येतरे सुताः। ॥ १३.३४.३० ॥
For the sake of the kingdom the gods and demons, sons of Kaśyapa, quarrelled. You are divided and without offspring; the other sons are the ascetic's.
13.34.31
युष्माकं भेदितास्ते तु युद्धेऽन्योन्यमपातयन् ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा तापसी चापि संतप्ता प्ररुरोद ह ॥ १३.३४.३१ ॥
Divided among you, they struck each other down in battle. Hearing this, the ascetic woman too, deeply distressed, wept aloud.
13.34.32
ब्राह्मणच्छद्मनाऽभ्येत्य तामिन्द्रोऽथान्वपृच्छत ।
केन दुःखेन संतप्ता रोदिषि त्वं वरानने ॥ १३.३४.३२ ॥
Approaching her in the guise of a brahmin, Indra asked her: 'O fair-faced woman, by what sorrow are you distressed and weeping?'
13.34.33
ब्राह्म्णं तं ततो दृष्ट्वा सा स्त्री करणमब्रवीत् ।
पुत्राणां द्वे शते ब्रह्मन्कालेन विनिपातिते ॥ १३.३४.३३ ॥
Seeing that brahmin, the woman told the reason: 'O brahmin, two hundred of my sons have been struck down by time.'
13.34.34
अहं राजाऽभव विप्र तत्र पूर्वं शतं मम ।
समुत्पन्नं सुरूपाणां पुत्राणां ब्राह्मणोत्तम ॥ १३.३४.३४ ॥
O brahmin, I was once a king there, and a hundred handsome sons were born to me, O best of brahmins.
13.34.35
कदाचिन्मृगयां यात उद्धान्तो गहने वने ।
अवगाढश्च सरसि स्त्रीभूतो ब्राह्मणोत्तम ॥ १३.३४.३५ ॥
Once, having gone hunting, I wandered astray in a dense forest; having plunged into a lake, O best of brahmins, I became a woman.
13.34.36
पुत्रान्राज्ये प्रतिष्ठाप्य वनमस्मि ततो गतः ॥ १३.३४.३६ ॥
Having established my sons in the kingdom, I then went to the forest.
13.34.37
स्त्रियाश्च मे पुत्रशतं तापसेन महात्मना ।
आश्रमे जनितं ब्रह्मन्नीतं तन्नगरं मया ॥ १३.३४.३७ ॥
And a hundred sons were born to my wife in the hermitage, by the great-souled ascetic. O Brahmin, I took that city.
13.34.38
तेषां च वैरमुत्पन्नं कालयोगेन वै द्विज ।
एतच्छोचाम्यहं ब्रह्मन्दैवेन समभिप्लुता ॥ १३.३४.३८ ॥
Enmity arose between them through the course of time, O twice-born. For this I grieve, O Brahmin, overtaken by fate.
13.34.39
इन्द्रस्तां दुःशितां दृष्ट्वा अब्रवीत्परुषं वचः ॥ १३.३४.३९ ॥
Seeing her in distress, Indra spoke harsh words.
13.34.40
पुरा सुदुःसहं भद्रे मम दुःखं त्वया कृतम् ।
इन्द्रद्विष्टेन यजता मामनाहूय धिष्ठितम्।
इन्द्रोऽहमस्मि दुर्बुद्धे वैरं ते पातितं मया ॥ १३.३४.४० ॥
Formerly, O good lady, you caused me most unbearable pain. The sacrificer hostile to Indra presumed to occupy the seat without invoking me. I am Indra, O foolish one; your enmity I have brought down.
13.34.41
इन्द्रं दृष्ट्वा तु राजर्षिः पादयोः शिरसा गतः ।
प्रसीद त्रिदशश्रेष्ठ पुत्रकामेन स क्रतुः।
इष्टस्त्रिदशशार्दूल तत्र मे क्षन्तुमर्हसि ॥ १३.३४.४१ ॥
Seeing Indra, the royal sage went with his head at his feet. Be gracious, best of the thirty gods; that sacrifice was offered by one desiring sons. O tiger among the gods, there you should forgive me.
13.34.42
प्रणिपातेन तस्येन्द्रः परितुष्टो वरं ददौ ॥ १३.३४.४२ ॥
Pleased by his prostration, Indra granted a boon.
13.34.43
पुत्रास्ते कतमे राजञ्जीवन्त्वेतत्प्रचक्ष्व मे ।
स्त्रीभूतस्य हि ये जाताः पुरुषस्याथ येऽभवन् ॥ १३.३४.४३ ॥
O king, tell me which of your sons should live: those born of one who had become a woman, or those who were born of a man?
13.34.44
तापसी तु ततः शक्रमुवाच प्रयताञ्जलिः ।
स्त्रीभूतस्य हि ये पुत्रास्ते मे जीवन्तु वासव ॥ १३.३४.४४ ॥
Then the ascetic woman, with folded hands, said to Indra: O Vāsava, let the sons born of one who had become a woman, my sons, live.
13.34.45
इन्द्रस्तु विस्मितो दृष्ट्वा स्त्रियं पप्रच्छ तां पुनः ।
पुरुषोत्पादिता ये ते कथं द्वेष्याः सुतास्तव ॥ १३.३४.४५ ॥
But Indra, astonished, looked at the woman and asked her again: How are your sons, born of a man, hateful to you?
13.34.46
स्त्रीभूतस्य हि ये जाताः स्नेहस्तेभ्योऽधिकः कथम् ।
कारणं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तन्मे वक्तुमिहार्हसि ॥ १३.३४.४६ ॥
Why is your affection greater for those born of one who had become a woman? I wish to hear the reason; you should tell it to me here.
13.34.47
स्त्रियास्त्वभ्यधिकः स्नेहो न तता पुरुषस्य वै ।
तस्मात्ते शक्र जीवन्तु ये जाताः स्त्रीकृतस्य वै ॥ १३.३४.४७ ॥
A woman's affection is greater than a man's; a man's is not so. Therefore, O Śakra, let those live who were born of one made a woman.
13.34.48
एवमुक्तस्ततस्त्विन्द्रः प्रीतो वाक्यमुवाच ह ।
सर्व एवेह जीवन्तु पुत्रास्ते सत्यवादिनि ॥ १३.३४.४८ ॥
Thus addressed, Indra, pleased, said: O truthful woman, let all your sons live here.
13.34.49
वरं च वृणु राजेन्द्र यं त्वमिच्छसि सुव्रत ।
पुरुषत्वमथ स्त्रीत्वं मत्तो यदभिकाङ्क्षसे ॥ १३.३४.४९ ॥
O lord of kings, O one of good vows, choose the boon you desire: from me, whether manhood or womanhood you long for.
13.34.50
स्त्रीत्वमेव वृणे शक्र पुंस्त्वं नेच्छामि वासव ।
एवमुक्तस्तु देवेन्द्रस्तां स्त्रियं प्रत्युवाच ह ॥ १३.३४.५० ॥
O Śakra, I choose womanhood; I do not desire manhood, O Vāsava. Thus addressed, the lord of the gods answered that woman.
13.34.51
पुरुषत्वं कथं त्यक्त्वा स्त्रीत्वं रोचयसे विभो ।
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच स्त्रीभूतो राजसत्तमः ॥ १३.३४.५१ ॥
O mighty one, how is it that, abandoning manhood, you prefer womanhood? Thus addressed, the best of kings, now become a woman, replied.
13.34.52
स्त्रियाः पुरुषसंयोगे प्रीतिरभ्यधिका सदा ।
एतस्मात्कारणाच्छक्र स्त्रीत्वमेव वृणोम्यहम् ॥ १३.३४.५२ ॥
In union with a man a woman always has the greater delight. For this reason, O Śakra, I choose womanhood.
13.34.53
रमाभि चाधिकं स्त्रीत्वे सत्यं वै देवसत्तम ।
स्त्रीभावेन हि तुष्यामि गम्यतां त्रिदशाधिप ॥ १३.३४.५३ ॥
O best of gods, truly I take greater delight in womanhood; with the state of a woman I am content. Go, O lord of the thirty.
13.34.54
एवमस्त्विति चोक्त्वा तामापृच्छ्य त्रिदिवं गतः ।
एवं स्त्रिया महाराज अधिका प्रीतिरुच्यते ॥ १३.३४.५४ ॥
Saying "So be it," and taking leave of her, he went to heaven. Thus, great king, it is said that a woman has the greater delight.