Shloka 15
प्रोक्त: स्वयं सत्यसंधेन मृत्यु- स्तव प्रियार्थ नरदेव युद्धे । वीर: शिखण्डी द्रौपदो5सौ महात्मा मयाभिगुप्तेन हतश्न तेन,नरदेव! तेरा प्रिय करनेके लिये सत्यप्रतिज्ञ भीष्मजीने युद्धमें महामनस्वी वीर द्रपदकुमार शिखण्डीको अपनी मृत्यु बताया था। मेरे ही द्वारा सुरक्षित होकर शिखण्डीने उन्हें मारा है
proktaḥ svayaṁ satyasaṁdhena mṛtyus tava priyārtha naradeva yuddhe | vīraḥ śikhaṇḍī draupado ’sau mahātmā mayābhiguptena hataś ca tena naradeva ||
Arjuna said: “O king, for your sake Bhīṣma himself—steadfast in the truth of his vow—declared in battle the manner of his death: that the heroic Śikhaṇḍī, the high-souled son of Drupada, would be the cause. Protected by me, Śikhaṇḍī indeed struck him down. Thus, O king, it was done to fulfill your desire.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension in war: even a truth-bound elder like Bhīṣma acknowledges a destined and vow-consistent end, while Arjuna frames tactical protection of Śikhaṇḍī as serving a pledged purpose. It underscores how vows, truthfulness, and duty operate within the harsh necessities of battle.
Arjuna tells the king that Bhīṣma had himself foretold that Śikhaṇḍī (Drupada’s child) would be the instrument of his death. Arjuna protected Śikhaṇḍī in combat, enabling him to bring about Bhīṣma’s fall, thereby fulfilling the king’s desired outcome.