Shloka 16
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
यन्मे कन्यां स्वकन्यार्थे वृतवानसि दुर्मते । फलं तस्यावलेपस्य द्रक्ष्यस्यद्य न संशय:
yan me kanyāṁ svakanyārthe vṛtavān asi durmate | phalaṁ tasyāvalepasya drakṣyasy adya na saṁśayaḥ ||
“ದುರ್ಮತನೇ! ನಿನ್ನ ಕನ್ಯಾರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ನನ್ನ ಕನ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ನೀನು ವರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡೆ; ಆ ಅಹಂಕಾರದ ಫಲವನ್ನು ನೀನು ಇಂದು ಕಾಣುವೆ—ಸಂಶಯವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arrogant, self-serving actions—especially those that violate propriety in matters of marriage and honor—inevitably yield consequences; pride (avalepa) becomes the cause of one’s downfall.
Bhīṣma addresses an opponent with a stern warning: because the other party presumptuously ‘chose’ Bhīṣma’s maiden for the benefit of his own daughter, Bhīṣma declares that the offender will immediately witness the result of that insolence.