Shloka 14
अम्बायाः तपोदीक्षा–रुद्रवर–आत्मदाहः
Amba’s Ascetic Vow, Rudra’s Boon, and Self-Immolation
हिरण्यवर्मण: कन्या ज्ञात्वा तां तु शिखण्डिनीम् । धात्रीणां च सखीनां च व्रीडमाना न्यवेदयत् । कन्यां पञ्चालराजस्य सुतां तां वै शिखण्डिनीम्,हिरण्यवर्माकी पुत्रीने शिखण्डीके यथार्थ स्वरूपको जानकर अपनी धाय तथा सखियोंसे लजाते-लजाते यह गुप्त बात कह दी कि पांचालराजके पुत्र शिखण्डी वास्तवमें पुरुष नहीं, स्त्री हैं
hiraṇyavarmaṇaḥ kanyā jñātvā tāṃ tu śikhaṇḍinīm | dhātrīṇāṃ ca sakhīnāṃ ca vrīḍamānā nyavedayat || kanyāṃ pāñcālarājasya sutāṃ tāṃ vai śikhaṇḍinīm ||
ธิดาของหิรัณยวรมัน ครั้นล่วงรู้ความจริงเรื่องศิขัณฑินีแล้ว ก็ด้วยความอับอายได้กระซิบแจ้งแก่แม่นมและสหายสนิทว่า บุตรแห่งกษัตริย์ปัญจาลผู้มีนามว่าศิขัณฑินีนั้น แท้จริงเป็นสตรี
दुपद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical strain created when social honor depends on concealed personal truths: shame and secrecy arise not merely from the fact itself, but from fear of public judgment and its political consequences. It foreshadows how private matters can escalate into public conflict when reputation and dynastic alliances are at stake.
Hiraṇyavarman’s daughter discovers that Śikhaṇḍinī—known as the child of the king of Pāñcāla—is actually female, and, feeling embarrassed, she confidentially tells her nurses and close friends. This disclosure functions as a trigger for later developments involving marriage alliance, honor, and retaliation.