भार्या चोढा त्वया राजन्दशार्णाधिपतेः सुता। मया च प्रत्यभिहितं देववाक्यार्थदर्शनात्। कन्या भूत्वा पुमान्भावीत्येवं चैतदुपेक्षितम्
You, O king, married her to the daughter of the lord of Dasharna; and I, understanding the meaning of the divine words, declared that though born a girl, she would become a man, and thus this matter was overlooked.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा द्रुपदो यज्ञसेनः सर्वं तत्त्वं मन्त्रविद्भ्यो निवेद्य। मन्त्रं राजा मन्त्रयामास राजन् यथायुक्तं रक्षणे वै प्रजानाम्
Hearing this, Drupada, son of Yajnasena, informed the ministers of the whole truth, and the king deliberated with them, O king, on how best to protect the people.
संबन्धकं चैव समर्थ्य तस्मिन् दाशार्णके वै नृपतौ नरेन्द्र। स्वयं कृत्वा विप्रलम्भं यथाव- न्मन्त्र्यैकाग्रो निश्चयं वै जगाम
Having established the alliance with the king of Dasharna, and himself having carried out the deception as was fitting, the king, focused in counsel, reached a decision.
स्वभावगुप्तं नगरमापत्काले तु भारत। गोपयामास राजेन्द्र सर्वतः समलङ्कृतम्
At a time of crisis, O Bharata, the king protected the city, which was well-guarded and adorned on all sides, keeping its true nature concealed.
आर्तिं च परमां राजा जगाम सह भार्यया। दशार्णपतिना सार्धं विरोधे भरतर्षभ
The king, together with his wife, experienced great distress, O bull of the Bharatas, in conflict with the lord of Dasharna.
कथं संबन्धिना सार्धं न मे स्याद्विग्रहो महान्। इति संचिन्त्य मनसा देवतामर्चयत्तदा
Thinking, 'How might I avoid a great conflict with my ally?' he then worshipped the deities in his mind.
तं तु दृष्ट्वा तदा राजन्देवी देवपरं तदा। अर्चां प्रयुञ्जानमथो भार्या वचनमब्रवीत्
Seeing him thus engaged in worship, the queen, devoted to the gods, spoke these words to her husband.
देवानां प्रतिपत्तिश्च सत्यं साधुमता सताम् । किमु दुःस्वार्णवं प्राप्य तस्मादर्चयतां गुरून्
The attainment of the gods is true and beneficial for the virtuous; but what is the use of reaching a difficult ocean? Therefore, worship the revered ones.
दैवतानि च सर्वाणि पूज्यनां भूरिदक्षिणम् । अग्नयश्चापि हृयन्तां दाशार्णप्रतिषेधने
Let all the deities be worshipped with abundant gifts, and let the fires be kindled for the protection against the Dasharna king.
अयुद्धेन निवृत्तिं च मनसा चिन्तय प्रभो। देवतानां प्रसादेन सर्वमेतद्भविष्यति
Consider in your mind, O lord, how to bring about a resolution without war; by the favor of the gods, all this will come to pass.
मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रितं सार्धं त्वया पृथुललोचन। पुरस्यास्याविनाशाय यच्च राजंस्तथा कुरु
Together with your ministers, O wide-eyed one, do what is necessary for the safety of this city, O king.
दैवं हि मानुषोपेतं भृशं सिद्ध्यति पार्थिव । परम्परविरोधाद्धि सिद्धिरस्ति न चैतयोः
For, O king, what is joined with human effort is greatly successful; but success does not come from mere opposition or tradition.
तस्माद्विधाय नगरे विधानं सचिवैः सह। अर्चयस्व यथाकामं दैवतानि विशांपते
Therefore, establish proper measures in the city with your counselors, and worship the deities as you desire, O lord of the people.
एवं संभाषमाणौ तु दृष्ट्वा शोकपरायणौ। शिखण्डिनी तदा कन्या व्रीडितेव तपस्विनी
While the two were thus conversing, seeing them overwhelmed by sorrow, Shikhandini, the maiden, then stood by, ashamed, as if engaged in austerity.
ततः सा चिन्तयामास मन्कृते दुःखितावुभौ । इमाविति ततश्चक्रे मतिं प्राणविनाशने
Then she began to reflect, seeing both her parents distressed because of her, and so she resolved to end her own life.
एवं सा निश्चयं कृत्वा भृशं शोकपरायणा। निर्जगाम गृहं त्यक्त्वा गहनं निर्जनं वनम्
Having made this decision, overwhelmed by grief, she left her home and went out into a dense and deserted forest.
यक्षेणर्द्धिमता राजन्स्थूणाकर्णेन पालितम् । तद्भयादेव च जनो विसर्जयति तद्वनम्
That forest, O King, was guarded by the powerful yaksha Sthunakarna, and because of fear of him, people avoided that place.
तत्र च स्थूणभवनं सुधामृत्तिकलेपनम् । लाजोल्लापिकधूमाढ्यमुच्चप्राकारतोरणम्
There stood the dwelling of Sthuna, plastered with lime and clay, filled with the smoke of parched grain, and adorned with high walls and gateways.
तन्प्रविश्य शिखण्डी सा द्रुपदस्यात्मजा नृप । अनश्नाना बहुतिथं शरीरमुदशोपयत्
Entering there, Shikhandi, the child of Drupada, spent many days without eating, tormenting her body.
दर्शयामास तां यक्षः स्थूणो मार्दवसंयुतः । किमर्थोऽयं तवारम्भः करिष्ये ब्रूहि माचिरम्
The yaksha Sthuna, gentle in nature, appeared before her and said: 'For what purpose have you come here? Tell me quickly what you wish to do, and I will accomplish it.'
अशक्ययिति सा यक्षं पुनः पुनरुवाच ह। करिष्यामीति वै क्षिप्रं प्रत्युवाचाथ गुह्यकः
She repeatedly told the yaksha, 'It is impossible,' but the guhyaka replied at once, 'I will do it.'
धनेश्वरस्यानुचरो वरदोऽस्मि नृपात्मजे। अदेयमपि दास्यादि ब्रूहि यत्ते विवक्षितम्
I am an attendant of the Lord of Wealth, O princess, a granter of boons; even what is difficult to give, I will grant—tell me what you desire.
ततः शिखण्डी तत्सर्वमखिलेन न्यवेदयत्। तस्मै यक्षप्रधानाय स्थूणाकर्णाय भारत
Then Shikhandi related everything in full to the chief of the yakshas, Sthunakarna, O Bharata.
आपन्नो मे पिता यक्ष न चिरान्नाशमेष्यति। अभियास्यति सक्रोधो दशार्णाधिपतिर्हि तम्
My father is in distress, O yaksha, and will not survive long; the king of the Dasharnas, filled with wrath, will soon come against him.
मन्निमित्तं महोत्साहः सहेमकवचो नृपः । तस्माद्रक्षस्व मां यक्ष मातरं पितरं च मे
That king, mighty and armored in gold, is coming because of me; therefore, yaksha, protect me, my mother, and my father.
प्रतिज्ञातो हि भवता दुःखप्रतिशमो मम । भवेयं पुरुषो यक्ष त्वत्प्रसादादनिन्दितः
You have promised to remove my suffering; by your favor, yaksha, let me become a man, blameless.
यावदेव स राजा वै नोपयाति पुरं मम । तावदेव महायक्ष प्रसादं कुरु गुह्यक
Until that king enters my city, O great yaksha, grant me your favor, O guhyaka.
शिखण्डिवाक्यं श्रुत्वाऽथ स यक्षो भरतर्षभ । प्रोवाच मनसा चिन्त्य दैवेनोपनिपीडितः
Hearing Shikhandi's words, the yaksha, troubled by fate, pondered in his mind and spoke, O bull among the Bharatas.
भवितव्यं तथा तद्धि मम दुःखाय कौरव। भद्रे कामं करिष्यामि समयं तु निबोध मे
So it must be, Kaurava, though it brings me sorrow; noble one, I will do as you wish, but listen to my condition.
स्वं ते पुंस्त्वं प्रदास्यामि स्त्रीत्वं धारयिताऽस्मि ते' किंचित्कालं तु ते दास्ये पुल्लिङ्गं स्वमिदं तव। आगन्तव्यं त्वया काले सत्यं चैव वदस्व मे
I will give you my manhood and take your womanhood for a time; for a while you shall have my male form, but you must return it at the proper time—swear to me truly.