Shloka 18
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)
ततः सा चिन्तयामास मत्कृते दुःखितावुभौ । इमाविति ततक्षक्रे मतिं प्राणविनाशने,इन दोनोंको इस प्रकार शोकमग्न होकर बातचीत करते देख उनकी तपस्विनी पुत्री शिखण्डिनी लज्जित-सी होकर इस प्रकार चिन्ता करने लगी--'ये मेरे माता और पिता दोनों मेरे ही कारण दुःखी हो रहे हैं।। ऐसा सोचकर उसने प्राण त्याग देनेका विचार किया
tataḥ sā cintayāmāsa matkṛte duḥkhitāv ubhau | imāv iti tataḥ cakre matiṁ prāṇavināśane ||
ત્યારે તેણીએ વિચાર્યું—‘મારા કારણે આ બંને, માતા અને પિતા, દુઃખી છે.’ એમ વિચારી તેણે પ્રાણત્યાગનો નિશ્ચય કર્યો।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that intense shame and misplaced self-blame can lead to adharma such as self-destruction; ethical action lies in seeking a righteous remedy rather than choosing prāṇavināśa when one’s situation causes family suffering.
Bhīṣma narrates that Śikhaṇḍinī, seeing her parents grieving because of her, feels ashamed and concludes that she is the cause of their sorrow; she therefore resolves to give up her life.