Shikhandini Seeks the Yaksha Sthunakarna

Verse 1 (5.191.1)

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

tataḥ śikhaṇḍino mātā yathātattvaṃ narādhipa | ācacakṣe mahābāho bhartre kanyāṃ śikhaṇḍinīm

Then, ruler of men, mighty-armed one, Shikhandi's mother told her husband the truth about their daughter Shikhandini.

Note on the text: Corrected भर्त्र → भर्त्रे (misprint in Wikisource; dropped e sign, the dative "to her husband" is needed, critical edition bhartre).

Verse 2 (5.191.2)

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

aputrayā mayā rājansapatnīnāṃ bhayādidam | kanyā śikhaṇḍinī jātā puruṣo vai niveditā

I had no son, king, and out of fear of my co-wives, when Shikhandini was born a girl, I announced her as a boy.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Drupada's wife: her direct speech (verses 2–4) has no printed heading; verse 1 introduces it and the input had carried Bhishma over.

Verse 3 (5.191.3)

त्वया चैव नरश्रेष्ठ तन्मे प्रीत्याऽनुमोदितम् । पुत्रकर्म कृतं चैव कन्यायाः पार्थिवर्षभ ॥

tvayā caiva naraśreṣṭha tanme prītyā'numoditam | putrakarma kṛtaṃ caiva kanyāyāḥ pārthivarṣabha

And you, best of men, approved it out of love for me, and the rites due to a son were performed for the girl, bull among kings.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match because the critical edition's 5.192.3 has six quarters; this verse is its 3a–d.

Verse 4 (5.191.4)

भार्या चोढा त्वया राजन्दशार्णाधिपतेः सुता । मया च प्रत्यभिहितं देववाक्यार्थदर्शनात् । कन्या भूत्वा पुमान्भावीत्येवं चैतदुपेक्षितम् ॥

bhāryā coḍhā tvayā rājandaśārṇādhipateḥ sutā | mayā ca pratyabhihitaṃ devavākyārthadarśanāt | kanyā bhūtvā pumānbhāvītyevaṃ caitadupekṣitam

And you married her, king, to the daughter of the lord of the Dasharnas. I gave my assent, seeing the meaning of the god's word that she would be born a girl and become a man; and so the matter was let pass.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.192.3ef; lines 2–3 are 5.192.4 (Wikisource मया च प्रत्यभिहितं for tvayā ca prāg abhihitaṃ).

Verse 5 (5.191.5)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा द्रुपदो यज्ञसेनः । सर्वं तत्त्वं मन्त्रविद्भ्यो निवेद्य । मन्त्रं राजा मन्त्रयामास राजन् । यथायुक्तं रक्षणे वै प्रजानाम् ॥

etacchrutvā drupado yajñasenaḥ | sarvaṃ tattvaṃ mantravidbhyo nivedya | mantraṃ rājā mantrayāmāsa rājan | yathāyuktaṃ rakṣaṇe vai prajānām

Hearing this, Drupada Yajnasena laid the whole truth before his counsellors, and then, O king, the king took counsel on what was right for the protection of his people.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma, as the narration resumes.

Verse 6 (5.191.6)

संबन्धकं चैव समर्थ्य तस्मिन् । दाशार्णके वै नृपतौ नरेन्द्र । स्वयं कृत्वा विप्रलम्भं यथाव- । न्मन्त्र्यैकाग्रो निश्चयं वै जगाम ॥

saṃbandhakaṃ caiva samarthya tasmin | dāśārṇake vai nṛpatau narendra | svayaṃ kṛtvā vipralambhaṃ yathāva- | nmantryaikāgro niścayaṃ vai jagāma

Holding the marriage tie with the Dasharna king to be worth keeping, lord of men, though he himself had practised the deception, he deliberated single-mindedly, as was proper, and came to a decision.

Verse 7 (5.191.7)

स्वभावगुप्तं नगरमापत्काले तु भारत । गोपयामास राजेन्द्र सर्वतः समलङ्कृतम् ॥

svabhāvaguptaṃ nagaramāpatkāle tu bhārata | gopayāmāsa rājendra sarvataḥ samalaṅkṛtam

The city was well guarded by its very nature; still, in this time of danger, Bharata, the king had it defended on every side and fully equipped, king of kings.

Verse 8 (5.191.8)

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

ārtiṃ ca paramāṃ rājā jagāma saha bhāryayā | daśārṇapatinā sārdhaṃ virodhe bharatarṣabha

And the king and his wife fell into the deepest distress over the quarrel with the lord of the Dasharnas, bull of the Bharatas.

Verse 9 (5.191.9)

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

kathaṃ saṃbandhinā sārdhaṃ na me syādvigraho mahān | iti saṃcintya manasā devatāmarcayattadā

"How may I avoid a great war with my kinsman?" Turning this over in his mind, he then worshipped the deity.

Verse 10 (5.191.10)

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

taṃ tu dṛṣṭvā tadā rājandevī devaparaṃ tadā | arcāṃ prayuñjānamatho bhāryā vacanamabravīt

Seeing him then, king, devoted to the gods and offering worship, the queen, his wife, spoke to him.

Verse 11 (5.191.11)

देवानां प्रतिपत्तिश्च सत्यं साधुमता सताम् । किमु दुःखार्णवं प्राप्य तस्मादर्चयतां गुरून् ॥

devānāṃ pratipattiśca satyaṃ sādhumatā satām | kimu duḥkhārṇavaṃ prāpya tasmādarcayatāṃ gurūn

Honouring the gods and the good is truly approved by the virtuous even in good times; how much more when one has fallen into an ocean of sorrow! Therefore let my lord honour the elders.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Drupada's wife: her speech (verses 11–16) has no printed heading; verse 10 introduces it and the input had carried Bhishma over. Corrected दुःस्वार्णवं → दुःखार्णवं (misprint in Wikisource; स्व for ख, the page's own gloss reads दुःखार्णवं, critical edition duḥkhārṇavaṃ).

Verse 12 (5.191.12)

दैवतानि च सर्वाणि पूज्यन्तां भूरिदक्षिणम् । अग्नयश्चापि हूयन्तां दाशार्णप्रतिषेधने ॥

daivatāni ca sarvāṇi pūjyantāṃ bhūridakṣiṇam | agnayaścāpi hūyantāṃ dāśārṇapratiṣedhane

Let all the gods be worshipped with generous gifts, and let offerings be poured into the fires to turn back the Dasharna king.

Note on the text: Corrected पूज्यनां → पूज्यन्तां and हृयन्तां → हूयन्तां (misprints in Wikisource; a dropped त् and ृ for ू, critical edition pūjyantāṃ, hūyantāṃ).

Verse 13 (5.191.13)

अयुद्धेन निवृत्तिं च मनसा चिन्तय प्रभो । देवतानां प्रसादेन सर्वमेतद्भविष्यति ॥

ayuddhena nivṛttiṃ ca manasā cintaya prabho | devatānāṃ prasādena sarvametadbhaviṣyati

And think in your heart, lord, of how to turn him back without a battle; by the grace of the gods all this will come to pass.

Verse 14 (5.191.14)

मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रितं सार्धं त्वया पृथुललोचन । पुरस्यास्याविनाशाय यच्च राजंस्तथा कुरु ॥

mantribhirmantritaṃ sārdhaṃ tvayā pṛthulalocana | purasyāsyāvināśāya yacca rājaṃstathā kuru

And whatever you have resolved with your ministers, large-eyed one, to keep this city from ruin, do that, king.

Verse 15 (5.191.15)

दैवं हि मानुषोपेतं भृशं सिद्ध्यति पार्थिव । परस्परविरोधाद्धि सिद्धिरस्ति न चैतयोः ॥

daivaṃ hi mānuṣopetaṃ bhṛśaṃ siddhyati pārthiva | parasparavirodhāddhi siddhirasti na caitayoḥ

For fate joined with human effort succeeds abundantly, king; but when the two are at odds with each other, neither succeeds.

Note on the text: Corrected परम्परविरोधाद्धि → परस्परविरोधाद्धि (misprint in Wikisource; म for स, the sense is "mutual opposition", critical edition parasparavirodhāt).

Verse 16 (5.191.16)

तस्माद्विधाय नगरे विधानं सचिवैः सह । अर्चयस्व यथाकामं दैवतानि विशांपते ॥

tasmādvidhāya nagare vidhānaṃ sacivaiḥ saha | arcayasva yathākāmaṃ daivatāni viśāṃpate

So, after making arrangements in the city with your ministers, worship the gods as you wish, lord of the people.

Verse 17 (5.191.17)

एवं संभाषमाणौ तु दृष्ट्वा शोकपरायणौ । शिखण्डिनी तदा कन्या व्रीडितेव तपस्विनी ॥

evaṃ saṃbhāṣamāṇau tu dṛṣṭvā śokaparāyaṇau | śikhaṇḍinī tadā kanyā vrīḍiteva tapasvinī

Seeing the two of them talking thus, sunk in grief, the girl Shikhandini, poor thing, felt as though ashamed.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma, as the narration resumes.

Verse 18 (5.191.18)

ततः सा चिन्तयामास मत्कृते दुःखितावुभौ । इमाविति ततश्चक्रे मतिं प्राणविनाशने ॥

tataḥ sā cintayāmāsa matkṛte duḥkhitāvubhau | imāviti tataścakre matiṃ prāṇavināśane

Then she thought, "Both of them are grieving because of me," and so she set her mind on ending her life.

Note on the text: Corrected मन्कृते → मत्कृते (misprint in Wikisource; न् for त्, critical edition matkṛte).

Verse 19 (5.191.19)

एवं सा निश्चयं कृत्वा भृशं शोकपरायणा । निर्जगाम गृहं त्यक्त्वा गहनं निर्जनं वनम् ॥

evaṃ sā niścayaṃ kṛtvā bhṛśaṃ śokaparāyaṇā | nirjagāma gṛhaṃ tyaktvā gahanaṃ nirjanaṃ vanam

Having made this resolve, deep in sorrow, she left her home and went into a dense and lonely forest,

Verse 20 (5.191.20)

यक्षेणर्द्धिमता राजन्स्थूणाकर्णेन पालितम् । तद्भयादेव च जनो विसर्जयति तद्वनम् ॥

yakṣeṇarddhimatā rājansthūṇākarṇena pālitam | tadbhayādeva ca jano visarjayati tadvanam

guarded, king, by the wealthy yaksha Sthunakarna; out of fear of him people shunned that forest.

Verse 21 (5.191.21)

तत्र च स्थूणभवनं सुधामृत्तिकलेपनम् । लाजोल्लापिकधूमाढ्यमुच्चप्राकारतोरणम् ॥

tatra ca sthūṇabhavanaṃ sudhāmṛttikalepanam | lājollāpikadhūmāḍhyamuccaprākāratoraṇam

There stood Sthuna's dwelling, plastered with lime and clay, thick with smoke scented with vetiver, with high walls and a lofty gateway.

Verse 22 (5.191.22)

तत्प्रविश्य शिखण्डी सा द्रुपदस्यात्मजा नृप । अनश्नाना बहुतिथं शरीरमुदशोषयत् ॥

tatpraviśya śikhaṇḍī sā drupadasyātmajā nṛpa | anaśnānā bahutithaṃ śarīramudaśoṣayat

Entering it, king, Shikhandi, Drupada's daughter, went without food for many days and wasted her body away.

Note on the text: Corrected तन्प्रविश्य → तत्प्रविश्य (misprint in Wikisource; न् for त् before प, critical edition tat praviśya) and उदशोपयत् → उदशोषयत् (misprint; प for ष, "she wasted away", the critical edition reading upaśoṣayat from the same root).

Verse 23 (5.191.23)

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

darśayāmāsa tāṃ yakṣaḥ sthūṇo mārdavasaṃyutaḥ | kimartho'yaṃ tavārambhaḥ kariṣye brūhi māciram

Then the yaksha Sthuna, full of gentleness, showed himself to her: "Why have you undertaken this? Tell me quickly, and I will do it."

Verse 24 (5.191.24)

अशक्यमिति सा यक्षं पुनः पुनरुवाच ह । करिष्यामीति वै क्षिप्रं प्रत्युवाचाथ गुह्यकः ॥

aśakyamiti sā yakṣaṃ punaḥ punaruvāca ha | kariṣyāmīti vai kṣipraṃ pratyuvācātha guhyakaḥ

"It cannot be done," she said to the yaksha again and again; but the guhyaka at once answered, "I will do it."

Note on the text: Corrected अशक्ययिति → अशक्यमिति (misprint in Wikisource; य for म, critical edition aśakyam iti).

Verse 25 (5.191.25)

धनेश्वरस्यानुचरो वरदोऽस्मि नृपात्मजे । अदेयमपि दास्यामि ब्रूहि यत्ते विवक्षितम् ॥

dhaneśvarasyānucaro varado'smi nṛpātmaje | adeyamapi dāsyāmi brūhi yatte vivakṣitam

I am a follower of the lord of wealth, princess, and a giver of boons. I will give even what should not be given; tell me what you wish to say.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Sthunakarna: the yaksha's words fill this verse without a printed heading (verse 24 introduces them); the input had carried Bhishma over. Corrected दास्यादि → दास्यामि (misprint in Wikisource; द for म, critical edition dāsyāmi).

Verse 26 (5.191.26)

ततः शिखण्डी तत्सर्वमखिलेन न्यवेदयत् । तस्मै यक्षप्रधानाय स्थूणाकर्णाय भारत ॥

tataḥ śikhaṇḍī tatsarvamakhilena nyavedayat | tasmai yakṣapradhānāya sthūṇākarṇāya bhārata

Then Shikhandi told everything in full, Bharata, to Sthunakarna, chief among yakshas.

Note on the text: Speaker: Bhishma, as the narration resumes.

Verse 27 (5.191.27)

आपन्नो मे पिता यक्ष न चिरान्नाशमेष्यति । अभियास्यति सक्रोधो दशार्णाधिपतिर्हि तम् ॥

āpanno me pitā yakṣa na cirānnāśameṣyati | abhiyāsyati sakrodho daśārṇādhipatirhi tam

My father is in peril, yaksha, and before long he will be destroyed, for the lord of the Dasharnas is marching against him in wrath.

Verse 28 (5.191.28)

मन्निमित्तं महोत्साहः सहेमकवचो नृपः । तस्माद्रक्षस्व मां यक्ष मातरं पितरं च मे ॥

mannimittaṃ mahotsāhaḥ sahemakavaco nṛpaḥ | tasmādrakṣasva māṃ yakṣa mātaraṃ pitaraṃ ca me

It is because of me that the king in golden armour comes, full of zeal. Therefore protect me, yaksha, and my mother and my father.

Verse 29 (5.191.29)

प्रतिज्ञातो हि भवता दुःखप्रतिशमो मम । भवेयं पुरुषो यक्ष त्वत्प्रसादादनिन्दितः ॥

pratijñāto hi bhavatā duḥkhapratiśamo mama | bhaveyaṃ puruṣo yakṣa tvatprasādādaninditaḥ

You have promised to put an end to my sorrow. By your grace, yaksha, let me become a man beyond reproach.

Verse 30 (5.191.30)

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

yāvadeva sa rājā vai nopayāti puraṃ mama | tāvadeva mahāyakṣa prasādaṃ kuru guhyaka

Before that king reaches my city, great yaksha, before then, guhyaka, grant me your favour.