Shloka 54
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
उसके निकट जाकर शिखण्डीने कहा--“भगवन्! मैं आपकी सेवामें उपस्थित हूँ।” तब स्थूणाकर्णने उससे बारंबार कहा--'मैं तुमपर बहुत प्रसन्न हूँ, बहुत प्रसन्न हूँ ।।
tasya nikaṭaṁ gatvā śikhaṇḍī uvāca— “bhagavan! ahaṁ tava sevāyāṁ upasthitaḥ.” tataḥ sthūṇākarṇaḥ tam punaḥ punaḥ uvāca— “ahaṁ tvayi bahu prasannaḥ, bahu prasannaḥ.” ārjavena āgataṁ dṛṣṭvā rājaputraṁ śikhaṇḍinam sarvam eva yathāvṛttam ācacakṣe śikhaṇḍine.
Mendekatinya, Śikhaṇḍī berkata: “Wahai Bhagavan, aku hadir untuk melayanimu.” Maka Sthūṇākarṇa berulang-ulang berkata kepadanya: “Aku sangat berkenan padamu—sangat berkenan.” Melihat pangeran Śikhaṇḍī datang dengan ketulusan yang lurus, sang Yakṣa menuturkan kepadanya seluruh kisah, tepat sebagaimana terjadinya.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sincere straightforwardness (ārjava) and humble readiness to serve (sevā) create moral credibility; such integrity naturally elicits goodwill (prasāda) and truthful communication.
Śikhaṇḍī approaches the Yakṣa Sthūṇākarṇa and offers service. Pleased by Śikhaṇḍī’s honest demeanor, the Yakṣa repeatedly expresses approval and then recounts the full story exactly as it occurred.