Shloka 5
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
स्त्रीलिड्रं धारयिष्यामि तदेवं पार्थिवात्मजे । सत्यं मे प्रतिजानीहि करिष्यामि प्रियं तव
strīliṅgaṃ dhārayiṣyāmi tadevaṃ pārthivātmaje | satyaṃ me pratijānīhi kariṣyāmi priyaṃ tava ||
হে ৰাজকুমাৰী! এইদৰে মই তোমাৰ স্ত্ৰীত্ব ধাৰণ কৰিম। কিন্তু মোক সত্য প্ৰতিজ্ঞা দিয়া—কাৰ্য সম্পন্ন হ’লে মোৰ পুৰুষত্ব মোক ঘূৰাই দিবা; তেতিয়াহে মই তোমাৰ প্ৰিয় কাম কৰিম।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical reciprocity and satya (truthfulness): even when undertaking an extraordinary act, Bhīṣma insists on a clear, truthful promise that the change is temporary and that the agreed restoration will be honored.
Bhīṣma addresses a royal maiden and agrees to assume a woman’s form to fulfill her desired objective, but only after securing her solemn pledge that, once the purpose is achieved, she will return him to his original male form.