Shloka 12

Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

दैवतानि च सर्वाणि पूज्यन्तां भूरिदक्षिणम्‌ अग्नयश्लापि हूयन्तां दाशार्णप्रतिषेधने

Transliteration

daivatāni ca sarvāṇi pūjyantāṁ bhūridakṣiṇam | agnayaś cāpi hūyantāṁ dāśārṇapratiṣedhane ||

Translation

समस्त देवताओं का पूजन हो, ब्राह्मणों को बहुत-सी दक्षिणा दी जाए, और दशार्णराज को लौटाने के लिए अग्नियों में हवन किया जाए।

Word by Word

• दैवतानि: the deities
• दैवतानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• पूज्यन्ताम्: let (them) be worshipped
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज्
• Form: Lot (Imperative/benedictive sense), Atmanepada, 3rd, Plural, Passive

• भूरि-दक्षिणम्: with abundant fees/gifts (dakṣiṇā)
• भूरि-दक्षिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि-दक्षिण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अग्नयः: fires (sacred fires)
• अग्नयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• हूयन्ताम्: let (oblations) be offered / let (they) be invoked
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु
• Form: Lot (Imperative/benedictive sense), Atmanepada, 3rd, Plural, Passive

• दाशार्ण-प्रतिषेधने: in/for the repelling of the Daśārṇas (Daśārṇa king/people)
• दाशार्ण-प्रतिषेधने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाशार्ण-प्रतिषेधन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Daivatāni (the gods)
• Agni / Agnayaḥ (sacred fires)
• Dāśārṇa (the Daśārṇa king/region)
• Brāhmaṇas (implied by dakṣiṇā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In times of distress, one should intensify dharmic conduct: honor elders and teachers, worship the gods, give generous gifts (dakṣiṇā), and perform Vedic fire-offerings—actions meant to restore order, merit, and protection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is advising a ruler facing trouble to undertake religious and charitable rites—worship and homa—specifically aimed at preventing or turning back the Daśārṇa ruler’s hostile move.