Shloka 3
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
(स्वं ते पुंस्त्व॑ प्रदास्यामि स्त्रीत्वं धारयितास्मि ते ।) किंचित् कालान्तरे दास्ये पुँल्लिड्गं स्वमिदं तव । आगन्तव्यं त्वया काले सत्यं चैव वदस्व मे
kiñcit kālāntare dāsye puṁlliṅgaṁ svam idaṁ tava | āgantavyaṁ tvayā kāle satyaṁ caiva vadasva me ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Après qu’un certain temps se sera écoulé, je te rendrai ta virilité d’origine. Tu devras revenir à l’heure fixée ; et dis-moi aussi la vérité.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes dharma through fidelity to one’s word: truth must be spoken, and obligations—especially those tied to a promise and a fixed time—must be honored.
Bhīṣma lays down a condition: after a time he will restore the other party’s original male form, but the person must return at the agreed time and speak truthfully to him.