Shloka 19
Ambā’s Vow of Tapas after Paraśurāma’s Assessment (अम्बाया तपोव्रतनिश्चयः)
जिनका तेज कभी क्षीण नहीं होता, उन महादेवजीके वचनोंपर श्रद्धा रखनेके कारण राजा ट्रपदने उसके कन्याभावको छिपाया और पुत्र होनेकी घोषणा कर दी ।। जातकर्माणि सर्वाणि कारयामास पार्थिव: । पुंवद्धिधानयुक्तानि शिखण्डीति च तां विदु:,राजाने बालकके सम्पूर्ण जातकर्म पुत्रोचित विधानसे ही करवाये, लोग उसे 'शिखण्डी' के नामसे जानते थे
jātakarmāṇi sarvāṇi kārayāmāsa pārthivaḥ | puṁvad vidhāna-yuktāni śikhaṇḍīti ca tāṁ viduḥ ||
قال بهيشما: لما وثق الملك دروبادا بكلام مهاديڤا، أخفى كون المولودة أنثى وأعلنها ابناً. وأمر بإقامة جميع شعائر الميلاد المقررة على نحو ما يُفعل للذكر، فصار الناس يعرفونها باسم «شيخَنْدي».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the power of śraddhā (trust) in divine words and the weight of royal responsibility: a king may shape public identity through ritual and proclamation, and such choices—though made for a perceived dharmic or strategic end—can become pivotal in later moral and political outcomes.
Drupada, relying on Mahadeva’s assurance, hides that the child is female and publicly announces a son. He orders all birth-ceremonies to be performed according to male prescriptions, and the child becomes known socially by the name Shikhandi.