Shloka 66
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
व्रतमेतन््मम सदा पृथिव्यामपि विश्रुतम् । स्त्रियां स्त्रीपूर्वके चैव स्त्रीनाम्नि स्त्रीसरूपिणि
vratam etan mama sadā pṛthivyām api viśrutam | striyāṃ strīpūrvake caiva strīnāmni strīsarūpiṇi na muñceyam ahaṃ bāṇam iti kauravanandana |
ພີດສະມະກ່າວວ່າ: «ຄຳປະຕິຍານນີ້ຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ ໂດງດັງທົ່ວພື້ນພິພົບ: ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຈະບໍ່ປ່ອຍລູກສອນໃສ່ຜູ້ທີ່ເປັນຍິງ, ຫຼືຜູ້ທີ່ເຄີຍເປັນຍິງແລ້ວກາຍເປັນຊາຍ, ຫຼືຜູ້ທີ່ຊື່ເປັນຊື່ຍິງ, ຫຼືຜູ້ທີ່ຮູບຮ່າງແລະເຄື່ອງນຸ່ງຫົ່ມຄ້າຍຍິງ. ນີ້ແມ່ນການສຳລວມຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ, ໂອ້ ຄວາມຊື່ນບານແຫ່ງກຸຣຸ».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma articulates a self-binding ethical limit in warfare: even in battle he will not attack those he classifies as ‘woman’ or woman-associated (by prior gender, name, or appearance). The verse highlights how personal vows and dharma-based restraints can override tactical advantage.
In the Udyoga Parva’s war-preparation context, Bhīṣma explains to a Kuru prince that his famous vow prevents him from shooting certain opponents—especially those connected with womanhood—foreshadowing how such a rule can be used strategically against him in the coming conflict.