Shloka 64

Devanagari script

ज्येष्ठा काशिपते: कन्या अम्बानामेति विश्रुता । द्रुपदस्य कुले जाता शिखण्डी भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठी काशिराजकी ज्येष्ठ कन्या, जो अम्बा नामसे विख्यात थी, वही द्रुपदके कुलमें शिखण्डीके रूपमें उत्पन्न हुई है

Transliteration

jyeṣṭhā kāśipateḥ kanyā ambā nāmeti viśrutā | drupadasya kule jātā śikhaṇḍī bharatarṣabha ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “The eldest daughter of the king of Kashi, famed by the name Amba, has been born again in the lineage of Drupada as Shikhandi, O bull among the Bharatas.”

Word by Word

ज्येष्ठाeldest

काशिपतेःof the lord of Kāśi (king of Kāśi)

कन्याdaughter

अम्बाAmbā

नामby name

एतिis called / goes by (the name)

विश्रुताwell-known, renowned

द्रुपदस्यof Drupada

कुलेin the family/lineage

जाताborn, arisen

शिखण्डीŚikhaṇḍī

भरतर्षभO bull among the Bharatas

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Ambā

Kāśī

Kāśipati (King of Kāśī)

Drupada

Śikhaṇḍī

Bharata (dynasty)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights karmic continuity: unresolved harm and intense resolve can carry across lives, returning as a force that restores moral balance. It also implies an ethical warning—actions, especially those affecting others’ life-paths, can have far-reaching consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma identifies Śikhaṇḍī as the rebirth of Ambā, the eldest princess of Kāśī. This recognition explains why Śikhaṇḍī becomes pivotal in the events leading to Bhishma’s downfall in the war.