Shloka 17
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)
एवं संभाषमाणौ तु दृष्टया शोकपरायणौ । शिखण्डिनी तदा कन्या व्रीडितेव तपस्विनी,इन दोनोंको इस प्रकार शोकमग्न होकर बातचीत करते देख उनकी तपस्विनी पुत्री शिखण्डिनी लज्जित-सी होकर इस प्रकार चिन्ता करने लगी--'ये मेरे माता और पिता दोनों मेरे ही कारण दुःखी हो रहे हैं।। ऐसा सोचकर उसने प्राण त्याग देनेका विचार किया
evaṁ saṁbhāṣamāṇau tu dṛṣṭvā śokaparāyaṇau | śikhaṇḍinī tadā kanyā vrīḍiteva tapasvinī ||
अशा रीतीने शोकात बुडालेले माता-पिता बोलत आहेत असे पाहून, तपस्विनी स्वभावाची कन्या शिखण्डिनी जणू लज्जेने व्याकुळ झाली।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of perceived responsibility within a family: when one believes others suffer because of oneself, shame and compassion can drive extreme thoughts. It implicitly invites discernment—grief and honor-culture pressures can distort judgment, and dharma requires steadiness rather than impulsive self-destruction.
Bhishma narrates that Shikhandini sees her parents speaking while overwhelmed by sorrow. Feeling ashamed and thinking their suffering is caused by her, she becomes distressed and considers abandoning her life.