Shloka 16
Śikhaṇḍī-janma-nigūḍha-vṛtta (The concealed birth-account of Śikhaṇḍī) | शिखण्डी-जन्म-निगूढ-वृत्त
इति संचिन्त्य यत्नेन समित्र: सबलानुग: । वज्चितो<स्मीति मन्वानो मां किलोद्धर्तुमिच्छति
iti sañcintya yatnena samitraḥ sabalānugaḥ | vañcito 'smīti manvāno māṃ kiloddhartum icchati |
“Having reflected carefully, he—accompanied by his friends and followed by his forces—believes, ‘I have been deceived.’ Therefore he wishes to come and uproot me with deliberate effort. O fair-hipped one, what here is true and what is false? O lovely one, you alone must tell me this. Having heard the auspicious words that come from your mouth, I shall act accordingly.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical decision-making grounded in discernment: before acting in anger or retaliation based on suspicion of deception, one should ascertain what is true and what is false, and then act in accordance with trustworthy counsel.
A person, convinced that he has been deceived, prepares to act forcefully with allies and troops. The speaker (Bhīṣma) frames this as a moment requiring clarification and urges the addressed woman—praised as suśroṇī/śobhanā—to state what is true, promising to act according to her auspicious words.