Shloka 27
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)
शिखण्डिन्युवाच अपुत्रो मे पिता यक्ष न चिरान्नाशमेष्यति । अभियास्यति सक्रोधो दशार्णाधिपतिर्हि तम्
Śikhaṇḍiny uvāca: aputro me pitā yakṣa na cirān nāśam eṣyati | abhiyāsyati sa-krodho daśārṇādhipatir hi tam ||
ಶಿಖಂಡಿನಿ ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಓ ಯಕ್ಷನೇ! ನನ್ನ ತಂದೆಗೆ ಪುತ್ರನಿಲ್ಲ; ಅವರು ಶೀಘ್ರದಲ್ಲೇ ನಾಶವನ್ನು ಎದುರಿಸುವರು, ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ದಶಾರ್ಣಾಧಿಪತಿ ಕ್ರೋಧದಿಂದ ಉರಿದು ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ ಅವರ ಮೇಲೆ ದಾಳಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾನೆ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how social duty and political reality intertwine: a family’s perceived weakness (sonlessness) can invite aggression, and unchecked royal anger becomes a force that threatens dharma. It implicitly urges timely, prudent action to protect dependents and avert unjust violence.
Śikhaṇḍinī addresses a Yakṣa, warning that her sonless father is in imminent danger because the enraged ruler of Daśārṇa is preparing to attack him. This sets up the urgency behind subsequent decisions in the Śikhaṇḍinī/Śikhaṇḍin episode.