Shloka 16
Śikhaṇḍī-janma-nigūḍha-vṛtta (The concealed birth-account of Śikhaṇḍī) | शिखण्डी-जन्म-निगूढ-वृत्त
इति संचिन्त्य यत्नेन समित्र: सबलानुग: । वज्चितो<स्मीति मन्वानो मां किलोद्धर्तुमिच्छति
iti sañcintya yatnena samitraḥ sabalānugaḥ | vañcito 'smīti manvāno māṃ kiloddhartum icchati |
「慎重に思案した末、彼は――友を伴い、軍勢を従えて――『我は欺かれた』と信じ込んだ。ゆえに彼は、周到な力をもって来たり、我を根こそぎ引き倒そうとしている。おおスシュローニよ、この件の真と偽はいずれか。麗しき者よ、ただそなたのみが我に告げよ。そなたの口より出づる吉祥の言葉を聞けば、我はそのとおりに処する。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical decision-making grounded in discernment: before acting in anger or retaliation based on suspicion of deception, one should ascertain what is true and what is false, and then act in accordance with trustworthy counsel.
A person, convinced that he has been deceived, prepares to act forcefully with allies and troops. The speaker (Bhīṣma) frames this as a moment requiring clarification and urges the addressed woman—praised as suśroṇī/śobhanā—to state what is true, promising to act according to her auspicious words.