Shloka 1
अपन कराता बछ। अं: एकोननवर्त्याधेकशततमो< ध्याय: शिखण्डीका विवाह तथा उसके स्त्री होनेका समाचार पाकर उसके श्वशुर दशार्णगजका महान् कोप भीष्म उवाच चकार यत्नं द्रुपद: सुताया: सर्वकर्मसु | ततो लेख्यादिषु तथा शिल्पेषु च परंतप,भीष्म कहते हैं--तदनन्तर ट्रुपदने अपनी पुत्रीको लेखनशिक्षा और शिल्पशिक्षा आदि सभी कार्योंकी योग्यता प्राप्त करानेके लिये विशेष प्रयत्न किया
bhīṣma uvāca | cakāra yatnaṁ drupadaḥ sutāyāḥ sarvakarmasu | tato lekhya-ādiṣu tathā śilpeṣu ca parantapa ||
Bhishma said: “Thereafter King Drupada made a deliberate effort to train his child in every requisite duty and skill. Thus, O scorcher of foes, he had the child instructed in writing and related arts, as well as in the various crafts—preparing the way for the later events surrounding Śikhaṇḍī’s identity and marriage.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s responsibility includes deliberate preparation of one’s child for social and practical duties—education in literacy and crafts is presented as a foundational form of dharma, especially when future public consequences are at stake.
Bhishma narrates that Drupada, anticipating the demands of life and circumstance, ensured his child (connected with Shikhandi in this chapter) was trained comprehensively—specifically in writing and in various crafts—setting up the later complications around marriage and identity.