Shloka 5
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
स्त्रीलिड्रं धारयिष्यामि तदेवं पार्थिवात्मजे । सत्यं मे प्रतिजानीहि करिष्यामि प्रियं तव,“राजकुमारी! इस प्रकार मैं तुम्हारा स्त्रीत्व धारण करूँगा, कार्य पूर्ण हो जानेपर तुम मेरा पुरुषत्व लौटा देनेकी मुझसे सच्ची प्रतिज्ञा करो; तब मैं तुम्हारा प्रिय कार्य करूँगा”
strīliṅgaṃ dhārayiṣyāmi tadevaṃ pārthivātmaje | satyaṃ me pratijānīhi kariṣyāmi priyaṃ tava ||
Wahai putri raja, dengan cara inilah aku akan memikul kewanitaanmu. Namun berjanji-lah kepadaku dengan sebenar-benarnya bahwa setelah urusan itu selesai, engkau akan mengembalikan kelelakianku kepadaku; barulah aku akan melakukan apa yang kauinginkan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical reciprocity and satya (truthfulness): even when undertaking an extraordinary act, Bhīṣma insists on a clear, truthful promise that the change is temporary and that the agreed restoration will be honored.
Bhīṣma addresses a royal maiden and agrees to assume a woman’s form to fulfill her desired objective, but only after securing her solemn pledge that, once the purpose is achieved, she will return him to his original male form.