Shloka 11
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Remorse and Vyāsa’s Teaching on Impermanence (Śoka-nivāraṇa)
स्वयं मृत्युं रक्षमाण: पाञ्चाल्यं यः शिखण्डिनम् । न बाणै: पातयामास सोअ3र्जुनेन निपातित:
svayaṃ mṛtyuṃ rakṣamāṇaḥ pāñcālyaṃ yaḥ śikhaṇḍinam | na bāṇaiḥ pātayāmāsa so 'rjunena nipātitaḥ ||
យុធិષ્ઠិរ បានមានព្រះបន្ទូលថា៖ «អ្នកណា ដូចជាកំពុងការពារមរណៈផ្ទាល់ បានការពារព្រះរាជកុមារបញ្ចាលា ឈ្មោះ សិខណ្ឌិន ហើយមិនបានបាញ់ព្រួញឲ្យគាត់ដួលឡើយ—ជីតាធំនោះឯង ត្រូវអរជុនបាញ់ឲ្យដួលចុះ»។
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between personal vows and battlefield duty: Bhīṣma’s refusal to strike Śikhaṇḍin (due to his principles and prior knowledge of Śikhaṇḍin’s identity/history) becomes the very condition that enables his fall, showing how dharma-based restraint can shape outcomes even in war.
Yudhiṣṭhira reflects on the moment Bhīṣma, treating Śikhaṇḍin as untouchable, protects him and does not shoot him; using Śikhaṇḍin as a screen, Arjuna then shoots Bhīṣma and brings him down.