Shloka 46
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
कुरुनन्दन! उसे इस रूपमें देखकर कुबेर अत्यन्त कुपित हो उठे और शाप देते हुए बोले--'गुह्मको! इस पापी स्थूणाकर्णका यह स्त्रीत्व अब ऐसा ही बना रहे' ।।
tato 'bravīd yakṣapatir mahātmā | yasmād adās tv avamanyeh yakṣān | śikhaṇḍine lakṣaṇa pāpabuddhe strīlakṣaṇaṃ cāgrahīḥ pāpakarman ||
Ó alegria dos Kurus! Ao vê-lo naquela forma, Kubera enfureceu-se e, ao amaldiçoá-lo, disse: «Ó Guhūka! Que esta condição de mulher do pecador Sthūṇākarṇa permaneça assim mesmo!» Em seguida, o grande senhor dos Yakṣas falou àquele Yakṣa: «Porque, desprezando os Yakṣas, aqui deste a tua virilidade a Śikhaṇḍin e tomaste para ti os sinais de mulher—ó mente pecaminosa, ó praticante do mal—, por teres cometido este ato impróprio, desde hoje permanecerás mulher, e Śikhaṇḍin permanecerá na forma de homem.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes ethical causality: contempt toward a community and an improper, socially disruptive exchange of identity-markers invites consequences. Authority (Kubera as yakṣapati) enforces order through a curse, showing that actions done in disregard of norms and respect can bind one to lasting results.
Kubera, angered by the Yakṣa’s act of giving his manhood to Śikhaṇḍin and taking on womanhood, declares a curse: the Yakṣa must remain female from that day, while Śikhaṇḍin will remain male. Bhīṣma recounts this as part of the backstory explaining Śikhaṇḍin’s role and form.