Shloka 37
भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
अयं स्त्रीपूर्वको राजज्छिखण्डी यदि ते श्रुतः । उद्योगे कथितं यत्तत् तथा जाता शिखण्डिनी,“राजन! तुमने भी सुना होगा, यह शिखण्डी पहले स्त्रीरूपमें पैदा हुआ था। यह बात मैंने तुमसे युद्धकी तैयारीके समय बता दी थी। इस प्रकार कन्यारूपमें उत्पन्न हुई शिखण्डिनी पहले स्त्री होकर अब पुरुष हो गयी है। वह पुरुष बना हुआ शिखण्डी यदि मुझसे युद्ध करेगा तो मैं उसके ऊपर किसी प्रकार भी बाण नहीं चलाऊँगा
ayaṁ strīpūrvako rājan chikhāṇḍī yadi te śrutaḥ | udyoge kathitaṁ yat tat tathā jātā śikhāṇḍinī ||
Sanjaya said: “O King, you have surely heard that this Shikhandi was formerly a woman. What I told you earlier, at the time of war preparations, has indeed come to pass: Shikhandini, born as a maiden, has now become Shikhandi in the form of a man.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how prior identity and social-ethical norms shape conduct in war: Shikhandi’s origin as Shikhandini becomes morally significant in the battlefield context, influencing what is considered permissible or impermissible for a warrior.
Sanjaya reminds King Dhritarashtra that Shikhandi was originally born as a woman (Shikhandini) and later became male. This information is being highlighted because it will affect how key warriors—especially Bhishma—respond to Shikhandi in combat.