Shloka 18
Śikhaṇḍī-janma-nigūḍha-vṛtta (The concealed birth-account of Śikhaṇḍī) | शिखण्डी-जन्म-निगूढ-वृत्त
अहं हि संशयं प्राप्तो बाला चेयं शिखण्डिनी । त्वं च राज्ञि महत् कृच्छूं सम्प्राप्ता वरवर्णिनि,“रानी! मेरा जीवन संशयमें पड़ गया है। यह शिखण्डिनी भी बालिका ही है। सुन्दरि! तुम भी महान् संकटमें फँस गयी हो
ahaṃ hi saṃśayaṃ prāpto bālā ceyaṃ śikhaṇḍinī | tvaṃ ca rājñi mahat kṛcchraṃ samprāptā varavarṇini ||
अहं हि संशयं प्राप्तो बाला चेयं शिखण्डिनी। त्वं च राज्ञि महत्कृच्छ्रं सम्प्राप्ता वरवर्णिनि॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical uncertainty (saṃśaya) when social roles and personal identity create a conflict of duty; it foregrounds the need for careful discernment before acting in situations that can cause harm or injustice.
Bhishma addresses a queen, stating that he is troubled by doubt because Shikhandini appears to be a girl, and he recognizes that the queen herself has been drawn into a serious predicament connected with this situation.