महाभारतम् — ५.१९२

भीष्म उवाच ।

ततः शिखण्डिनो माता यथातत्त्वं नराधिप ।
आचचक्षे महाबाहो भर्त्रे कन्यां शिखण्डिनीम् ॥

M N Dutt Bhishma said The mother of Shikhandin, O mightyarmed ruler of men, related to her husband all about her daughter Shikhandin in accordance with the real facts.

५.१९२.२

अपुत्रया मया राजन्सपत्नीनां भयादिदम् ।
कन्या शिखण्डिनी जाता पुरुषो वै निवेदितः ॥

M N Dutt Childless as I was, O great king, and from fear of my companion, wives, my daughter Shikhandin, when born, was represented to you as a son,

५.१९२.३

त्वया चैव नरश्रेष्ठ तन्मे प्रीत्यानुमोदितम् ।
पुत्रकर्म कृतं चैव कन्यायाः पार्थिवर्षभ ।
भार्या चोढा त्वया राजन्दशार्णाधिपतेः सुता ॥

M N Dutt O best of men, you had, also, from love of me, corroborated it and O best among kings, the rites belonging to a son were performed for this daughter.

५.१९२.४

त्वया च प्रागभिहितं देववाक्यार्थदर्शनात् ।
कन्या भूत्वा पुमान्भावीत्येवं चैतदुपेक्षितम् ॥

M N Dutt And a wife was given to her, O king viz., the daughter of the king of the Dasharna territories and it was approved of by me; seeing as I did the meaning of the words of that dirty, "Born as a maiden, she will become a male" we ignored this fact of her being a daughter.

५.१९२.५

एतच्छ्रुत्वा द्रुपदो यज्ञसेनः
सर्वं तत्त्वं मन्त्रविद्भ्यो निवेद्य ।
मन्त्रं राजा मन्त्रयामास राज
न्यद्यद्युक्तं रक्षणे वै प्रजानाम् ॥

M N Dutt Hearing this, king Drupada known as Yagasena, having conformed all his councillors of all these facts, held a consultation, O king, as to the best means of protecting his subjects.

५.१९२.६

संबन्धकं चैव समर्थ्य तस्मि
न्दाशार्णके वै नृपतौ नरेन्द्र ।
स्वयं कृत्वा विप्रलम्भं यथाव
न्मन्त्रैकाग्रो निश्चयं वै जगाम ॥

M N Dutt Although he had himself deceived the king of the Dasharna country, yet sanctioning the alliance as quite proper, he began to settle his plans with concentrated attention.

५.१९२.७

स्वभावगुप्तं नगरमापत्काले तु भारत ।
गोपयामास राजेन्द्र सर्वतः समलंकृतम् ॥

M N Dutt Naturally well-defended, O Bharata, (he) began to fortify his city, at the time of danger, in all possible ways, and adorned it (with works of defense).

५.१९२.८

आर्तिं च परमां राजा जगाम सह भार्यया ।
दशार्णपतिना सार्धं विरोधे भरतर्षभ ॥

M N Dutt But the king was nevertheless afflicted with great grief, together with his queen, O best among Bharata's race, at this enmity with the king of Dasharna territories.

५.१९२.९

कथं संबन्धिना सार्धं न मे स्याद्विग्रहो महान् ।
इति संचिन्त्य मनसा दैवतान्यर्चयत्तदा ॥

M N Dutt Considering in his mind as to how there might not be this great enmity with his son's father-in-law, he began to worship the gods.

५.१९२.१०

तं तु दृष्ट्वा तदा राजन्देवी देवपरं तथा ।
अर्चां प्रयुञ्जानमथो भार्या वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon, perceiving him to be devoted to the gods, O king, and paying his worship, his wife, that goddess like lady spoke these words.

५.१९२.११

देवानां प्रतिपत्तिश्च सत्या साधुमता सदा ।
सा तु दुःखार्णवं प्राप्य नः स्यादर्चयतां भृशम् ॥

M N Dutt Though in prosperity, the worship of gods is truly prescribed by all righteous men, what then (ought to bu said) about those who are in distress? Therefore, worship your superiors.

५.१९२.१२

दैवतानि च सर्वाणि पूज्यन्तां भूरिदक्षिणैः ।
अग्नयश्चापि हूयन्तां दाशार्णप्रतिषेधने ॥

M N Dutt Pay worship also to all the gods with large presents (to the Brahmanas) and let the sacred fires be ablaze, to pacify the Dasharna king.

५.१९२.१३

अयुद्धेन निवृत्तिं च मनसा चिन्तयाभिभो ।
देवतानां प्रसादेन सर्वमेतद्भविष्यति ॥

M N Dutt O my lord, think in your mind (about a way) for pacification without involving a war. Through the grace of the gods, all this will happen.

५.१९२.१४

मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रितं सार्धं त्वया यत्पृथुलोचन ।
पुरस्यास्याविनाशाय तच्च राजंस्तथा कुरु ॥

M N Dutt Do as you had been counseled when you consulted with your ministers, O you with large eyes, for the preservation of this city, O king.

५.१९२.१५

दैवं हि मानुषोपेतं भृशं सिध्यति पार्थिव ।
परस्परविरोधात्तु नानयोः सिद्धिरस्ति वै ॥

M N Dutt When earthy power is joined to godly power, it will surely succeed, O king. But there is no success when these are against each other,

५.१९२.१६

तस्माद्विधाय नगरे विधानं सचिवैः सह ।
अर्चयस्व यथाकामं दैवतानि विशां पते ॥

M N Dutt Therefore, having taken the necessary steps as regard this city with your ministers, pay adoration, O lord of earth, to the gods according to your desire.

५.१९२.१७

एवं संभाषमाणौ तौ दृष्ट्वा शोकपरायणौ ।
शिखण्डिनी तदा कन्या व्रीडितेव मनस्विनी ॥

M N Dutt Perceiving those two, overwhelmed with grief, talking to each other, that daughter Shikhandin, ascetic as she was, filled with shame.

५.१९२.१८

ततः सा चिन्तयामास मत्कृते दुःखितावुभौ ।
इमाविति ततश्चक्रे मतिं प्राणविनाशने ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon she thought (within herself), "these two (my father and mother) are afflicted with grief on my account.” Then she made up her mind for destroying her own life.

५.१९२.१९

एवं सा निश्चयं कृत्वा भृशं शोकपरायणा ।
जगाम भवनं त्यक्त्वा गहनं निर्जनं वनम् ॥

M N Dutt Having firmly taken this resolution and been deeply afflicted with grief, she went out to a deep and lonely forest, abandoning her house.

५.१९२.२०

यक्षेणर्द्धिमता राजन्स्थूणाकर्णेन पालितम् ।
तद्भयादेव च जनो विसर्जयति तद्वनम् ॥

M N Dutt That forest, O king, was inhabited by a very rich and powerful Yaksha named Sthunakarna a and it was through his fear that men forsook that forest.

५.१९२.२१

तत्र स्थूणस्य भवनं सुधामृत्तिकलेपनम् ।
लाजोल्लापिकधूमाढ्यमुच्चप्राकारतोरणम् ॥

M N Dutt And there was the abode of Sthuna, washed with lime, from which issued smoke bearing the smell of fried paddy, and (surrounded) with high walls with a gate way.

५.१९२.२२

तत्प्रविश्य शिखण्डी सा द्रुपदस्यात्मजा नृप ।
अनश्नती बहुतिथं शरीरमुपशोषयत् ॥

M N Dutt Entering it, the daughter of king Drupada Shikhandin, O king, began to reduce her body by remaining without food for many a day.

५.१९२.२३

दर्शयामास तां यक्षः स्थूणो मध्वक्षसंयुतः ।
किमर्थोऽयं तवारम्भः करिष्ये ब्रूहि माचिरम् ॥

M N Dutt That Yaksha Sthuna, who was endued with kindliness, showed himself to her (and said), "for what purpose have you began this proceeding? Tell me and do not make delay, for I will do it."

५.१९२.२४

अशक्यमिति सा यक्षं पुनः पुनरुवाच ह ।
करिष्यामीति चैनां स प्रत्युवाचाथ गुह्यकः ॥

M N Dutt "It cannot be performed”, she replied to the Yaksha again and again. But that Guhyaka returned her answer immediately (by saying) “I shall surely do it."

५.१९२.२५

धनेश्वरस्यानुचरो वरदोऽस्मि नृपात्मजे ।
अदेयमपि दास्यामि ब्रूहि यत्ते विवक्षितम् ॥

M N Dutt “O daughter of the king, I am an attendant of the god of wealth, and I can grant boons. I will bestow even what is unbestowable. So tell me what you desire."

५.१९२.२६

ततः शिखण्डी तत्सर्वमखिलेन न्यवेदयत् ।
तस्मै यक्षप्रधानाय स्थूणाकर्णाय भारत ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon Shikhandin related to that chief of the Yakshas, named Sthunakarma, 0 Bharata, everything in detail.

५.१९२.२७

आपन्नो मे पिता यक्ष नचिराद्विनशिष्यति ।
अभियास्यति संक्रुद्धो दशार्णाधिपतिर्हि तम् ॥

M N Dutt Shikhandin said “O Yaksha, my father, bereft of a son, will very soon meet with destruction, for the lord of the Dasharna territories is marching against him with anger.

५.१९२.२८

महाबलो महोत्साहः स हेमकवचो नृपः ।
तस्माद्रक्षस्व मां यक्ष पितरं मातरं च मे ॥

M N Dutt That golden-armoured king is very powerful, and of great energy. Therefore protect me, O Yaksha, and my father and mother.

५.१९२.२९

प्रतिज्ञातो हि भवता दुःखप्रतिनयो मम ।
भवेयं पुरुषो यक्ष त्वत्प्रसादादनिन्दितः ॥

M N Dutt The pacification of my grief has been promised by you. Let me become a man, O Yaksha, through your grace, O faultless one.

५.१९२.३०

यावदेव स राजा वै नोपयाति पुरं मम ।
तावदेव महायक्ष प्रसादं कुरु गुह्यक ॥

M N Dutt So long as that king does not depart from my city, bestowed your grace, O great Yaksha and Guhyaka.