[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Epic, Poetry, Drama & Narrative](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit) › [The Mahābhārata and its versions](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata) › [The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) › 13.12.49 # The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 13.12.49 Mahābhārata 13.12.49 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [13.12.49](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.13.12.49) evamastviti coktvā tāmāpṛcchya tridivaṃ gataḥ | evaṃ striyā mahārāja adhikā prītirucyate || 49 || > "The lady said, 'I desire to remain a woman, O Sakra. In fact,--do not wish to be restored to the status of manhood, O Vasava.--Hearing this answer, Indra once more asked her, saying,--Why is it, O puissant one, that abandoning the status of manhood thou wishest that of womanhood? Questioned thus, that foremost of monarchs transformed into a woman answered, 'In acts of congress, the pleasure that women enjoy is always much greater than what is enjoyed by men. It is for this reason, O Sakra, that I desire to continue a woman; O foremost of the deities, truly do I say unto thee that I derive greater pleasure in my present status of womanhood. I am quite content with this status of womanhood that I now have. Do thou leave me now, O lord of heaven.--Hearing these words of hers, the lord of the celestials answered,--So be it,--and bidding her farewell, proceeded to heaven. Thus, O monarch, it is known that woman derives much greater pleasure than man under the circumstances thou hast asked.'" > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa - [Previous: 13.12.48](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.13.12.48) - [Next: 13.13.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.13.13.1) - [Up: 13.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.13.12) ## Translations (1) - [The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa~en-ganguli.13.12.5) — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, English ## Other recensions (1) - [Vulgate (Nīlakaṇṭha's text)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa*vulgate.13.12.54) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.13.12.49](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.13.12.49) · Pramāṇa