Shloka 20
यदुक्त तेन वीरेण राज्ञा काउ्चनवर्मणा । यत् तेडहमधमाचार दुह्ित्रास्म्यभिवज्चित:,उद्धरिष्यामि ते सद्यः: सामात्यसुतबान्धवम् | “राजन! वीरवर राजा हिरण्यवर्माने जो संदेश दिया है, उसे सुनिये। पापाचारी दुर्बृद्धि नरेश! तुम्हारी पुत्रीके द्वारा मैं ठगा गया हूँ। वह पाप तुमने ही किया है; अतः उसका फल भोगो। नरेश्वर! युद्धके मैदानमें आकर मुझे युद्धका अवसर दो। मैं मन्त्री, पुत्र और बान्धवोंसहित तुम्हारे समस्त कुलको उखाड़ फेंकूँगा'
yad uktaṃ tena vīreṇa rājñā kāñcanavarmaṇā | yat te 'ham adhamācāra duhitrasmy abhivañcitaḥ, uddhariṣyāmi te sadyaḥ sāmātya-suta-bāndhavam ||
Bhishma said: “Listen to the message delivered by that heroic king Kāñcanavarman. ‘O king, base in conduct! I have been deceived through your daughter. That sin is yours; therefore bear its consequence. Come onto the battlefield and grant me the chance to fight. This very day I will uproot your entire line—together with your ministers, sons, and kinsmen.’”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames deception and sexual/political wrongdoing as generating moral culpability and consequences, and it shows a kshatriya-style demand for accountability: the wrongdoer (or the one held responsible) must face the results, here expressed as a challenge to battle and a threat of total destruction.
Bhishma reports a hostile message from King Kāñcanavarman to another king. Kāñcanavarman accuses the king of wrongdoing connected with the king’s daughter, claims he has been deceived, and issues an ultimatum: meet him in battle, or he will immediately destroy the king’s entire family line along with ministers, sons, and relatives.