Shloka 15
भीष्मपतनविषये धृतराष्ट्रस्य प्रश्नाः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Questions on Bhīṣma’s Fall
अब्रवीच्च विशुद्धात्मा नाहं हन्यां शिखण्डिनम् । श्रूयते स्त्री हासौ पूर्व तस्माद् व््यो रणे मम
sañjaya uvāca | abravīc ca viśuddhātmā nāhaṁ hanyāṁ śikhaṇḍinam | śrūyate strī hy asau pūrvaṁ tasmād varjyo raṇe mama ||
قال سنجيا: إنّ الجدَّ بهيشما، طاهرَ النفس، أعلن: «لن أضرب شيكاندين. فقد سُمِعَ أنه كان في السابق امرأة؛ ولذلك فهو عندي ممّن يُتَجَنَّب في ساحة القتال.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, Bhishma upholds a personal ethical boundary: he refuses to strike Shikhandin due to Shikhandin’s reported former female identity. The verse foregrounds how vows, reputation (śrūyate), and dharmic self-restraint can govern action amid violence.
Sanjaya reports Bhishma’s declaration that he will not fight Shikhandin. This becomes strategically significant in the Kurukshetra war, since Bhishma’s refusal creates an opening for opponents to confront him using Shikhandin as a shield or front-line presence.