Shloka 22
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)
तत् प्रविश्य शिखण्डी सा द्रुपदस्यात्मजा नृप । अनश्षाना बहुतिथं शरीरमुदशोषयत्
tat praviśya śikhaṇḍī sā drupadasyātmajā nṛpa | anaśnānā bahutithaṁ śarīram udaśoṣayat ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „O König, nachdem Śikhaṇḍī—Drupadas Kind—dort eingetreten war, blieb sie viele Tage ohne Nahrung und ließ ihren Körper verzehren. So verfolgte sie in strenger Selbstentsagung ihren Entschluss und zeigte, wie ein fester Wille zu harter Askese treiben kann, selbst um den Preis des eigenen Leibes.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the power—and danger—of unwavering resolve: intense determination can lead to severe austerity and self-harm. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether one’s goal justifies extreme self-denial and how dharma should guide the use of personal will.
Bhīṣma narrates that Śikhaṇḍī, identified as Drupada’s child, enters a certain place and undertakes prolonged fasting. As a result, the body becomes emaciated, indicating a period of intense ascetic effort tied to Śikhaṇḍī’s larger life-story and purpose.