Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

अयुद्धेन निवृत्ति च मनसा चिन्तय प्रभो । देवतानां प्रसादेन सर्वमेतद्‌ भविष्यति

Transliteration

ayuddhena nivṛttiṃ ca manasā cintaya prabho | devatānāṃ prasādena sarvam etad bhaviṣyati ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „O Herr, erwäge in deinem Innern, dass der König von Daśārṇa ohne Kampf umkehren wird. Durch die gnädige Gunst der Götter wird dies alles geschehen.“

Word by Word

• अयुद्धेन: by non-fighting / without battle
• अयुद्धेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयुद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• निवृत्तिम्: withdrawal, turning back
• निवृत्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

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

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• चिन्तय: think, contemplate
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रभो: O lord
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• देवतानाम्: of the gods
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• प्रसादेन: by (their) grace/favor
• प्रसादेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सर्वम्: all (this)
• सर्वम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• भविष्यति: will happen / will come to be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Daśārṇarāja (King of Daśārṇa)
• Devatāḥ (the gods)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma urges a dharmic preference for avoiding bloodshed: one should aim for withdrawal and resolution without battle, while also acknowledging that outcomes may depend on higher providence (the gods’ favor).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s tense pre-war setting, Bhīṣma offers strategic and ethical counsel to his lord: anticipate and mentally prepare for the Daśārṇa king to retreat without fighting, trusting that divine favor will bring about this peaceful outcome.