Shloka 17
अम्बायाः तपोदीक्षा–रुद्रवर–आत्मदाहः
Amba’s Ascetic Vow, Rudra’s Boon, and Self-Immolation
शिखण्ड्यपि महाराज पुंवद् राजकुले तदा । विजहार मुदा युक्तः स्त्रीत्वं नैवातिरोचयन्
śikhaṇḍy api mahārāja puṁvad rājākule tadā | vijahāra mudā yuktaḥ strītvaṁ naivātirocayan ||
ମହାରାଜ! ଶିଖଣ୍ଡୀ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେହି ରାଜକୁଳରେ ପୁରୁଷ ପରି ଆନନ୍ଦରେ ବିହାର କରୁଥିଲା; ସ୍ତ୍ରୀତ୍ୱରେ ତାହାର କିଛିମାତ୍ର ରୁଚି ନଥିଲା।
दुपद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical-narrative point about inner disposition versus outward social role: Śikhaṇḍī’s self-understanding and conduct are described as masculine within a royal setting, foreshadowing later dharma-conflicts where personal identity, social perception, and wartime duty intersect.
Drupada is recounting Śikhaṇḍī’s life in the royal household, emphasizing that Śikhaṇḍī lived and moved about like a man and did not take pleasure in being regarded as female—details that prepare the audience for Śikhaṇḍī’s later role in the events leading to Bhīṣma’s fall.