Shloka 84
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
न प्रहर्तुमभीप्सामि गृहीतेषु: कथठ्चन । शिखण्डीकी ध्वजा अमांगलिक चिह्नसे युक्त है तथा विशेषत:ः वह पहले स्त्री रहा है; इसलिये मैं हाथमें बाण लिये रहनेपर भी किसी प्रकार उसके ऊपर प्रहार नहीं करना चाहता ।।
na prahartum abhīpsāmi gṛhīteṣuḥ kathaṃcana | śikhaṇḍīki-dhvajā amāṅgalika-cihnase yuktaḥ sa tathā viśeṣataḥ | sa pūrvaṃ strī āsīt; tasmād ahaṃ haste bāṇaṃ dhṛtvāpi kathaṃcana tasmin prahartuṃ na icchāmi | tadantaraṃ samāsādya pāṇḍavo māṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“即便箭在我手，我也无意以任何方式出手伤他。那人立着尸佉ṇḍin之旗，又带不祥之相；且他从前为女，因此纵然我已执箭待发，也不愿向他下击。随后，般度之子檀那阇耶逼近，上前来对阵于我。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, Bhīṣma upholds a personal code of dharma: he refuses to strike Śikhaṇḍin because of Śikhaṇḍin’s prior identity as a woman and the associated ethical restraint Bhīṣma observes, showing that vows and moral limits can govern conduct even amid violence.
On the battlefield, Bhīṣma declares he will not attack Śikhaṇḍin despite being armed and ready. Immediately afterward, Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), the Pāṇḍava warrior, advances toward Bhīṣma—setting up the moment where Śikhaṇḍin’s presence enables Arjuna to engage Bhīṣma decisively.