Shloka 38
भीष्मरक्षण-प्रकरणम् / The Protective Screen around Bhīṣma and the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Clash
कन्या भूत्वा पुमाउ्जात: स च मां योधयिष्यति । तस्याहं प्रमुखे बाणान् न मुज्चेयं कथंचन,“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
kanyā bhūtvā pumān jātaḥ sa ca māṃ yodhayīṣyati | tasyāhaṃ pramukhe bāṇān na muñceyaṃ kathaṃcana |
Sañjaya said: “Having been born as a maiden, he has now become a man, and he will come to fight me. But even if he stands directly before me, I will not release arrows at him in any way.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, dharma can impose restraints: Bhīṣma’s ethical vow prevents him from attacking Śikhaṇḍī, whom he regards as having been born female, showing how personal vows and notions of righteous combat shape battlefield conduct.
Sañjaya reports Bhīṣma’s stance regarding Śikhaṇḍī: though Śikhaṇḍī (born as a girl, later male) may confront him, Bhīṣma declares he will not shoot arrows at him even face-to-face, a decision that becomes strategically crucial in the battle.