Shloka 16
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
यन्मे कन्यां स्वकन्यार्थे वृतवानसि दुर्मते । फलं तस्यावलेपस्य द्रक्ष्यस्यद्य न संशय:
yan me kanyāṁ svakanyārthe vṛtavān asi durmate | phalaṁ tasyāvalepasya drakṣyasy adya na saṁśayaḥ ||
“தீயமதியனே! உன் மகளுக்காக என் மகளை நீ தேர்ந்தெடுத்தாய்; அந்த அகந்தையின் பலனை இன்று நீ கண்டே தீர்வாய்—இதில் ஐயமில்லை।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arrogant, self-serving actions—especially those that violate propriety in matters of marriage and honor—inevitably yield consequences; pride (avalepa) becomes the cause of one’s downfall.
Bhīṣma addresses an opponent with a stern warning: because the other party presumptuously ‘chose’ Bhīṣma’s maiden for the benefit of his own daughter, Bhīṣma declares that the offender will immediately witness the result of that insolence.