Shloka 12

Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

दैवतानि च सर्वाणि पूज्यन्तां भूरिदक्षिणम्‌ अग्नयश्लापि हूयन्तां दाशार्णप्रतिषेधने

Transliteration

daivatāni ca sarvāṇi pūjyantāṁ bhūridakṣiṇam | agnayaś cāpi hūyantāṁ dāśārṇapratiṣedhane ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Alle Götter sollen gebührend verehrt werden, und reichliche Gaben seien als dakṣiṇā dargebracht. Auch sollen in die heiligen Feuer Opfergüsse gegossen werden, damit der König von Daśārṇa zum Rückzug bewogen werde. Für die Tugendhaften ist Ehrfurcht vor dem Göttlichen stets ein wahrer und erhebender Weg; um wie viel mehr für den, der in einem Ozean der Trauer ertrinkt! Darum ehre die Ältesten und Lehrer, verehre die Götter, gib den Brahmanen großzügig und vollziehe Feueropfer, um das Vorrücken des Herrschers von Daśārṇa aufzuhalten.“

Word by Word

• दैवतानि: the deities
• दैवतानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• पूज्यन्ताम्: let (them) be worshipped
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज्
• Form: Lot (Imperative/benedictive sense), Atmanepada, 3rd, Plural, Passive

• भूरि-दक्षिणम्: with abundant fees/gifts (dakṣiṇā)
• भूरि-दक्षिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि-दक्षिण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अग्नयः: fires (sacred fires)
• अग्नयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• हूयन्ताम्: let (oblations) be offered / let (they) be invoked
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु
• Form: Lot (Imperative/benedictive sense), Atmanepada, 3rd, Plural, Passive

• दाशार्ण-प्रतिषेधने: in/for the repelling of the Daśārṇas (Daśārṇa king/people)
• दाशार्ण-प्रतिषेधने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाशार्ण-प्रतिषेधन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Daivatāni (the gods)
• Agni / Agnayaḥ (sacred fires)
• Dāśārṇa (the Daśārṇa king/region)
• Brāhmaṇas (implied by dakṣiṇā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In times of distress, one should intensify dharmic conduct: honor elders and teachers, worship the gods, give generous gifts (dakṣiṇā), and perform Vedic fire-offerings—actions meant to restore order, merit, and protection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is advising a ruler facing trouble to undertake religious and charitable rites—worship and homa—specifically aimed at preventing or turning back the Daśārṇa ruler’s hostile move.