Shloka 12

Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

दैवतानि च सर्वाणि पूज्यन्तां भूरिदक्षिणम्‌ अग्नयश्लापि हूयन्तां दाशार्णप्रतिषेधने,“देवताओंकी आराधना साधु पुरुषोंके लिये सदा ही सत्य (उत्तम) है। फिर जो दु:ःखके समुद्रमें डूबा हुआ हो, उसके लिये तो कहना ही क्‍या है। अत: आप गुरुजनों और सम्पूर्ण देवताओंका पूजन करें, ब्राह्मणोंको पर्याप्त दक्षिणा दें और दशार्णराजके लौट जानेके लिये अग्नियोंमें होम करें

Transliteration

daivatāni ca sarvāṇi pūjyantāṁ bhūridakṣiṇam | agnayaś cāpi hūyantāṁ dāśārṇapratiṣedhane ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「すべての神々を法にかなって礼拝し、豊かなダクシナー（祭礼の布施）を施せ。さらに聖なる火に供物を注ぎ、ダシャールナの王を退かせよ。徳ある者にとって神への敬虔は常に真実で心を高める道である。ましてや憂いの大海に溺れる者にはなおさらだ。ゆえに長老と師を敬い、神々を礼拝し、バラモンに惜しみなく施し、火供を行ってダシャールナ王の進軍を食い止めよ。」

Word by Word

दैवतानिthe deities

चand

सर्वाणिall

पूज्यन्ताम्let (them) be worshipped

भूरि-दक्षिणम्with abundant fees/gifts (dakṣiṇā)

अग्नयःfires (sacred fires)

अपिalso

हूयन्ताम्let (oblations) be offered / let (they) be invoked

दाशार्ण-प्रतिषेधनेin/for the repelling of the Daśārṇas (Daśārṇa king/people)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Daivatāni (the gods)

Agni / Agnayaḥ (sacred fires)

Dāśārṇa (the Daśārṇa king/region)

Brāhmaṇas (implied by dakṣiṇā)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In times of distress, one should intensify dharmic conduct: honor elders and teachers, worship the gods, give generous gifts (dakṣiṇā), and perform Vedic fire-offerings—actions meant to restore order, merit, and protection.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is advising a ruler facing trouble to undertake religious and charitable rites—worship and homa—specifically aimed at preventing or turning back the Daśārṇa ruler’s hostile move.