Shloka 70

Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच हम त्वा तु कौरव्यो राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा । स ध्यात्वा भीष्मे युक्तममन्यत,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! यह सब सुनकर कुरुवंशी राजा दुर्योधनने दो घड़ीतक कुछ सोच-विचारकर भीष्मके लिये शिखण्डीका वध न करना उचित ही मान लिया

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: haṁ tvā tu kauravyo rājā duryodhanas tadā | sa dhyātvā bhīṣme yuktam amanyata śikhaṇḍinaṁ na vadhitum ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O Janamejaya, having heard all this, the Kuru king Duryodhana at that time reflected for a while and concluded that, with regard to Bhīṣma, it was indeed proper not to slay Śikhaṇḍin.”

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana

उवाचsaid

अहम्I

त्वाyou

तुbut/indeed

कौरव्यःKaurava (of the Kuru line)

राजाking

दुर्योधनःDuryodhana

तदाthen

सःhe

ध्यात्वाhaving thought/considered

भीष्मेin/with regard to Bhīṣma

युक्तम्proper/appropriate

अमन्यतthought/considered

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Janamejaya

Duryodhana

Bhīṣma

Śikhaṇḍin

Kuru (Kaurava lineage)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid war, leaders weigh what is 'yukta' (proper) in light of moral constraints and reputational dharma; Duryodhana’s reflection shows an ethical calculus about how Bhīṣma should be engaged and what actions are considered fitting.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing prior counsel/events, Duryodhana pauses to think and decides that it is appropriate not to kill Śikhaṇḍin in the context of the plan involving Bhīṣma, indicating a deliberate choice about tactics and propriety.