Shloka 69
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
यदि भीष्म: स्त्रियं हन्यात् सन्त: कुर्युविगर्हणम् । नैनं तस्माद्धनिष्यामि दृष्टवापि समरे स्थितम्
yadi bhīṣmaḥ striyaṃ hanyāt santaḥ kuryur vigarhaṇam | nainaṃ tasmād haniṣyāmi dṛṣṭvāpi samare sthitam ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Se eu, Bhīṣma, abatesse uma mulher, os justos condenariam tal ato. Por isso não o matarei — mesmo quando eu o vir de pé no campo de batalha.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames battlefield conduct within dharma: even in war, an act that would be condemned by the virtuous—here, killing one regarded as a woman—must be avoided, because moral legitimacy and honor constrain violence.
Bhishma declares that he will not strike Shikhandi in battle, because Shikhandi is treated as a woman (or formerly a woman), and killing such a person would bring reproach from the righteous; this sets up Shikhandi’s role as a shield against Bhishma.