Anushasanika Parva — -continued Whether man or woman gets greater pleasure from an act of union

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.

Bhishma said To illustrate this question, the old discourse between Bhangasvana and Shakra is cited in this connection.

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.

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.

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.

Despite, all his careful watch Indra, however, O king, could not find any shortcomings on the part of the great king. Sometimes after, one day, the king went on a hunting expedition.

Saying to himself, this, indeed, is an opportunity, Indra stupefied th, king. The king went alone on his horse, confounded, because of the king of the gods having stupefied his senses.

Stricken with hunger and thirst, the king's confusion was so great that he could not see the cardinal points. Indeed, stricken with thirst, he began to rove about.

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.

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.

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.

Alas, how shall I ride my horse? How return to my capital? On account of the Agnishtuta sacrifice I have got a hundred sons all gifted with great strength, and all children of my own loins! Alas, thus changed, what shall I say to them? What shall I say to my wives, my relatives and wellwishers, and my subjects of the city and the provinces?

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?

Having thought thus the king, with great exertion, mounted his horse and returned to his capital, changed though he had been into a woman.

Seeing that extraordinary change his sons and wives and servants, and his subject of the city and the provinces were extremely amazed.

Then addressing them all, that royal sage, that foremost of orators, said, I had gone out on a hunting expedition, accompanied by a large army. Losing all knowledge of the cardinal points I entered a thick and dreadful forest, moved by the fates.

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.

Plunging into that lake for performing my ablutions, I was changed into a woman! Summoning then his wives and counsellors, and all his sons by their names, that best of kings changed into a woman said to them these words: Do you enjoy this kingdom happily. About myself, I shall go to the forest, you sons.

Having said thus to his children, the king went to the forest. Arrived there, she arrived at a hermitage inhabited by an ascetic.

By that ascetic the changed monarch gave birth to a hundred sons. Taking all those children of hers, she went to where her former children were, and addressing the latter, said, You are the children of my loins while I was a man. These are my children given birth to by me in this state of change. Sons, do you all enjoy my kingdom together, like brothers born of the saine parents.

Thus commanded by their parent, all the brothers, in a body, began to enjoy the kingdom as their joint property. Seeing those children of the king all jointly enjoying the kingdom as brothers born of the same parents, the king of the gods, filled with anger, began to reflect, by transforming this royal sage into a woman, I have, it appears, done him good instead of an injury:

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hearing this, king Bhangasvana, who was living as an ascetic woman, burning with grief and began to bewail. The king of the gods, viz., Indra, assuming the form of a Brahmana, came where the ascetic lady was living, and meeting her, said you having a beautiful face, with what grief do you burn so that you are thus bewailing? Seeing the Brahmana, the lady told। him in a piteous tone.

Two hundred sons of mine, O twiceborn one, have been killed by Time. I was formerly a king, O learned Brahmana and in that state had a hundred sons.

These were begotten by me after my own form, O best of twiceborn persons! On one occasion I went on a hunting expedition, Stupefied, I travelled amidst a thick forest.

Seeing at last a lake, I plunged into it. Rising, O foremost of Brahmanas, I found that I had become a woman. Returning to my capital I installed my sons in the kingdom and then left for the forest.

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.

My children, through the influence of time, fell out with each other, O twiceborn one! Thus afflicted by Destiny, I am bewailing.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Which of your sons, O king, do you wish, should revive, those whom you gave birth to as a woman, or those who were begotten by you asa man.

Joining her hands, the ascetic lady, answered Indra, saying O Vasava, let those sons of mine revive who were borne by me as a woman.

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?

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.

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.

Bhishma said Thus addressed, Indra became highly pleased and said to her O truthful lady, let all your children come back into life.

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.

The lady said I wish to remain a woman, O Shakra. In fact, I do not wish to become a man, O Vasava.Hearing this answer, Indra once more asked her, saying Why is it, O powerful one, that leaving aside the dignity of manhood you seek for that of womanhood? Thus accosted that foremost of kings transformed into a woman, answered In sexual intercourse, the pleasure that women enjoy is always much greater than what is enjoyed by men. Therefore, O Shakra, I wish to continue a woman.

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.

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.