भीष्य उवाच ततः शिखण्डिनो माता यथातत्त्वं नराधिप। आचचक्षे महाबाहो भर्ने कन्यां शिखण्डिनीम्॥
Bhishma said The mother of Shikhandin, O mightyarmed ruler of men, related to her husband all about her daughter Shikhandin in accordance with the real facts.
अपुत्रया मया राजन् सपत्नीनां भयादिदम्। कन्या शिखण्डिनी जाता पुरुषो वै निवेदिता॥
Childless as I was, O great king, and from fear of my companion, wives, my daughter Shikhandin, when born, was represented to you as a son,
त्वया चैव नरश्रेष्ठ तन्मे प्रीत्यानुमोदितम्। पुत्रकर्म कृतं चैव कन्यायाः पार्थिवर्षभ॥
O best of men, you had, also, from love of me, corroborated it and O best among kings, the rites belonging to a son were performed for this daughter.
भार्या चोढा त्वया राजन् दशार्णाधिपतेः सुता। मया च प्रत्यभिहितं देववाक्यार्थदर्शनात्। कन्या भूत्वा पुमान् भावीत्येवं चैतदुपेक्षितम्॥
And a wife was given to her, O king viz., the daughter of the king of the Dasharna territories and it was approved of by me; seeing as I did the meaning of the words of that dirty, "Born as a maiden, she will become a male" we ignored this fact of her being a daughter.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा दुपदो यज्ञसेनः सर्वं तत्त्वं मन्त्रविद्भयो निवेद्या मन्त्रं राजा मन्त्रयामास राजन् यथायुक्तं रक्षणे वै प्रजानाम्॥
Hearing this, king Drupada known as Yagasena, having conformed all his councillors of all these facts, held a consultation, O king, as to the best means of protecting his subjects.
सम्बन्धकं चैव समर्थ्य तस्मिन् दाशार्णके वै नृपतौ नरेन्द्र। काग्रो निश्चयं वै जगाम॥
Although he had himself deceived the king of the Dasharna country, yet sanctioning the alliance as quite proper, he began to settle his plans with concentrated attention.
स्वभावगुप्तं नगरमापत्काले तु भारत। गोपयामास राजेन्द्र सर्वत: समलंकृतम्॥
Naturally well-defended, O Bharata, (he) began to fortify his city, at the time of danger, in all possible ways, and adorned it (with works of defense).
आर्ति च परमां जगाम सह भार्यया। दशार्णपतिना सार्धं विरोधे भरतर्षभ। टा
But the king was nevertheless afflicted with great grief, together with his queen, O best among Bharata's race, at this enmity with the king of Dasharna territories.
कथं सम्बन्धिना सार्धं न मे स्याद् विग्रहो महान्। इति संचिन्त्य मनसा देवतामर्चयत् तदा॥
Considering in his mind as to how there might not be this great enmity with his son's father-in-law, he began to worship the gods.
तं तु दृष्ट्वा तदा राजन् देवी देवपरं तदा। अर्चा प्रयुञ्जानमथो भार्या वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Thereupon, perceiving him to be devoted to the gods, O king, and paying his worship, his wife, that goddess like lady spoke these words.
देवानां प्रतिपत्तिश्च सत्या साधुमता सताम्। किमु दुःखार्णवं प्राप्य तस्मादर्चयतां गुरून्॥
Though in prosperity, the worship of gods is truly prescribed by all righteous men, what then (ought to bu said) about those who are in distress? Therefore, worship your superiors.
दैवतानि च सर्वाणि पूज्यन्तां भूरिदक्षिणम्। अग्नयश्चापि हूयन्तां दाशार्णप्रतिषेधने॥
Pay worship also to all the gods with large presents (to the Brahmanas) and let the sacred fires be ablaze, to pacify the Dasharna king.
अयुद्धेन निवृत्तिं च मनसा चिन्तय प्रभो। देवतानां प्रसादेन सर्वमेतद् भविष्यति॥
O my lord, think in your mind (about a way) for pacification without involving a war. Through the grace of the gods, all this will happen.
मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रितं सार्धं त्वया पृथुललोचना पुरस्यास्याविनाशाय यच्च राजंस्तथा कुरु॥
Do as you had been counseled when you consulted with your ministers, O you with large eyes, for the preservation of this city, O king.
दैवं हि मानुषोपेतं भृशं सिद्ध्यति पार्थिव। परस्परविरोधाद्धि सिद्धिरस्ति न चैतयोः॥
When earthy power is joined to godly power, it will surely succeed, O king. But there is no success when these are against each other,
तस्माद् विधाय नगरे विधानं सचिवैः सह। अर्चयस्व यथाकामं दैवतानि विशाम्पते॥
Therefore, having taken the necessary steps as regard this city with your ministers, pay adoration, O lord of earth, to the gods according to your desire.
एवं संभाषमाणौ तु दृष्ट्वा शोकपरायणौ। शिखण्डिनी तदा कन्या वीडितेव तपस्विनी॥
Perceiving those two, overwhelmed with grief, talking to each other, that daughter Shikhandin, ascetic as she was, filled with shame.
ततः सा चिन्तयामास मत्कृते दुःखितावुभौ। इमाविति ततश्चक्रे मतिं प्राणविनाशने।॥
Thereupon she thought (within herself), "these two (my father and mother) are afflicted with grief on my account.” Then she made up her mind for destroying her own life.
एवं सा निश्चयं कृत्वा भृशं शोकपरायणा। निर्जगाम गृहं त्यक्त्वा गहनं निर्जनं वनम्॥
Having firmly taken this resolution and been deeply afflicted with grief, she went out to a deep and lonely forest, abandoning her house.
यक्षेणमिता राजन् स्थूणाकर्णेन पालितम्। तद्भयादेव च जनो विसर्जयति तद् वनम्॥
That forest, O king, was inhabited by a very rich and powerful Yaksha named Sthunakarna a and it was through his fear that men forsook that forest.
तत्र च स्थूणभवनं सुधामृत्तिकलेपनम्। ताजोल्लापिकधूमाढ्यमुच्चप्राकारतोरणम्॥
And there was the abode of Sthuna, washed with lime, from which issued smoke bearing the smell of fried paddy, and (surrounded) with high walls with a gate way.
तत् प्रविश्य शिखण्डी सा दुपदस्यात्मजा नृप। अनश्नाना बहुतिथं शरीरमुदशोषयत्॥
Entering it, the daughter of king Drupada Shikhandin, O king, began to reduce her body by remaining without food for many a day.
दर्शयामास तां यज्ञः स्थूणो मार्दवसंयुतः। किमर्थोऽयं तवारम्भः करिष्ये ब्रूहि मा चिरम्॥
That Yaksha Sthuna, who was endued with kindliness, showed himself to her (and said), "for what purpose have you began this proceeding? Tell me and do not make delay, for I will do it."
अशक्यमिति सा यक्षं पुनः पुनरुवाच ह। करिष्यामीति वै क्षिप्रं प्रत्युवाचाथ गुह्यकः॥
"It cannot be performed”, she replied to the Yaksha again and again. But that Guhyaka returned her answer immediately (by saying) “I shall surely do it."
धनेश्वरस्यानुचरों वरदोऽस्मि नृपात्मजे। अदेयमपि दास्यामि ब्रूहि यत् ते विवक्षितम्॥
“O daughter of the king, I am an attendant of the god of wealth, and I can grant boons. I will bestow even what is unbestowable. So tell me what you desire."
ततः शिखण्डी तत् सर्वमखिलेन न्यवेदयत्। तस्मै यक्षप्रधानाय स्थूणाकर्णाय भारत॥
Thereupon Shikhandin related to that chief of the Yakshas, named Sthunakarma, 0 Bharata, everything in detail.
शिखण्डिन्युवाच अपुत्रो मे पिता यक्ष न चिरान्नाशमेष्यति। अभियास्यति सक्रोधो दशार्णधिपतिर्हि तम्॥
Shikhandin said “O Yaksha, my father, bereft of a son, will very soon meet with destruction, for the lord of the Dasharna territories is marching against him with anger.
महाबलो महोत्साहः सहेमकवचो नृपः। तस्माद् रक्षस्व मां यक्षं मातरं पितरं च मे॥
That golden-armoured king is very powerful, and of great energy. Therefore protect me, O Yaksha, and my father and mother.
प्रतिज्ञातो हि भवता दुःखप्रतिशमो मम। भवेयं पुरुषो यक्ष त्वत्प्रसादादनिन्दितः॥
The pacification of my grief has been promised by you. Let me become a man, O Yaksha, through your grace, O faultless one.
यावदेव स राजा वै नोपयाति पुरं मम। तावदेव महायक्ष प्रसादं कुरु गुह्यकः॥
So long as that king does not depart from my city, bestowed your grace, O great Yaksha and Guhyaka.