Shloka 9
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)
कथं सम्बन्धिना सार्ध न मे स्वाद विग्रहो महान् । इति संचिन्त्य मनसा देवतामर्चयत् तदा,अपने सम्बन्धीके साथ मेरा महान् युद्ध कैसे टल जाय--यह मन-ही-मन विचार करके उन्होंने देवताकी अर्चना आस्मभ कर दी
kathaṁ sambandhinā sārdha na me svād vigraho mahān | iti sañcintya manasā devatām arcayat tadā ||
“ਆਪਣੇ ਹੀ ਸਬੰਧੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਮੇਰਾ ਇਹ ਮਹਾਂ ਯੁੱਧ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਟਲ ਜਾਵੇ?”—ਇਉਂ ਮਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੋਚ ਕੇ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਤਦੋਂ ਦੇਵਤਾ ਦੀ ਅਰਾਧਨਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when war seems imminent, a dharmic person first searches for ways to prevent violence among kin—through reflection, self-restraint, and turning to higher principles (symbolized by worship of the deity) rather than rushing into hostility.
Bhīṣma inwardly worries about the prospect of a great war with his own relatives and, after contemplating how it might be avoided, begins worship/propitiation of a deity—indicating an attempt to seek divine guidance or auspicious means to avert the impending conflict.