Shloka 69
Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)
यदि भीष्म: स्त्रियं हन्यात् सन्त: कुर्युविगर्हणम् । नैनं तस्माद्धनिष्यामि दृष्टवापि समरे स्थितम्,यदि भीष्म स्त्रीका वध करे तो साधु पुरुष इसकी निन्दा करेंगे, अत: शिखण्डीको समरभूमिमें खड़ा देखकर भी मैं इसे नहीं मारूँगा
yadi bhīṣmaḥ striyaṃ hanyāt santaḥ kuryur vigarhaṇam | nainaṃ tasmād haniṣyāmi dṛṣṭvāpi samare sthitam ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Kung ako, si Bhishma, ay papatay ng isang babae, hahatulan iyon ng mga matuwid. Kaya hindi ko siya papatayin—kahit makita ko pa siyang nakatayo sa larangan ng digmaan.”
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.