Shloka 46
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
कुरुनन्दन! उसे इस रूपमें देखकर कुबेर अत्यन्त कुपित हो उठे और शाप देते हुए बोले--'गुह्मको! इस पापी स्थूणाकर्णका यह स्त्रीत्व अब ऐसा ही बना रहे' ।।
tato 'bravīd yakṣapatir mahātmā | yasmād adās tv avamanyeh yakṣān | śikhaṇḍine lakṣaṇa pāpabuddhe strīlakṣaṇaṃ cāgrahīḥ pāpakarman ||
Sesudah itu, sang mahātmā, penguasa para Yakṣa, berkata: “Karena engkau menghina para Yakṣa dan di sini memberikan kelelakianmu kepada Śikhaṇḍin serta mengambil tanda-tanda kewanitaan—wahai pelaku dosa—maka akibat perbuatan yang tak patut ini, mulai hari ini engkau akan tetap menjadi perempuan, dan Śikhaṇḍin akan tetap dalam rupa laki-laki.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes ethical causality: contempt toward a community and an improper, socially disruptive exchange of identity-markers invites consequences. Authority (Kubera as yakṣapati) enforces order through a curse, showing that actions done in disregard of norms and respect can bind one to lasting results.
Kubera, angered by the Yakṣa’s act of giving his manhood to Śikhaṇḍin and taking on womanhood, declares a curse: the Yakṣa must remain female from that day, while Śikhaṇḍin will remain male. Bhīṣma recounts this as part of the backstory explaining Śikhaṇḍin’s role and form.