Shloka 23
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)
उस भवनमें प्रवेश करके द्रुपदपुत्री शिखण्डिनी बहुत दिनोंतक उपवास करके शरीरको सुखाती रही ।।
tat bhavanaṁ praviśya drupadaputrī śikhaṇḍinī bahūn divasān upavāsena śarīraṁ kṛśayāmāsa. darśayāmāsa tāṁ yakṣaḥ sthūṇo mārdavasaṁyutaḥ. kimartho ’yaṁ tava ārambhaḥ? kariṣye; brūhi mā ciraṁ.
Als Śikhaṇḍinī, Drupadas Tochter, jene Wohnung betrat, fastete sie lange Zeit und magerte ab. Der Yakṣa namens Sthūṇa sah sie in diesem Zustand, und in seinem Herzen regte sich zarte Anteilnahme. Da fragte er: „Edle Frau, zu welchem Zweck hast du dieses Fastengelübde begonnen? Sage mir ohne Zögern dein Anliegen—ich werde es erfüllen.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights compassion responding to suffering and the ethical power of resolve: a severe vow undertaken for a purpose can draw assistance, and a gentle heart (mārdava) is portrayed as a virtue that moves one to help another fulfill a rightful aim.
Śikhaṇḍinī enters a dwelling and fasts for many days, becoming weak. The Yakṣa Sthūṇa sees her condition, feels compassion, and asks the reason for her vow, promising to fulfill her objective if she explains it promptly.