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.
प्रभुः संकल्पसिद्धोऽस्मि कामचारी विहंगमः । मत्प्रसादात्पुरं चैव त्राहि बन्धूंश्च केवलम्
I am a master, able to fulfill my will, moving as I please; by my favor, you shall save your city and your kin.
स्त्रीलिङ्गं धारयिष्यामि तवेदं पार्थिवात्मजे। सत्यं मे प्रतिजानीहि करिष्यामि प्रियं तव
I will take on your feminine form, O princess, and this is my promise—swear to me truly, and I will do what pleases you.
प्रतिदास्यामि भगवन्पुलिङ्गं तव सुव्रत। किंचित्कालान्तरं स्त्रीत्वं धारयस्व निशाचर
O virtuous one, I shall return your male form to you; for a little while, O night-wanderer, you must bear the form of a woman.
प्रतियाते दशार्णे तु पार्थिवे हेमवर्मणि । कन्यैव हि भविष्यामि पुरुषस्त्वं भविष्यसि
When King Hemavarman of Dasharna has departed, I shall become a maiden again, and you shall regain your male form.
इत्युक्त्वा समयं तत्र चक्राते तावुभौ नृप । अन्योन्यस्यानभिद्रोहे तौ संक्रामयतां ततः
Having spoken thus, the two made an agreement there, O king, that neither would deceive the other, and then they exchanged forms.
स्त्रीलिङ्गं धारयामास स्थूणो यक्षोऽथ भारत । यक्षरूपं च तद्दीप्तं शिखण्डी प्रत्यपद्यत
Then the Yaksha Sthuna assumed the female form, O Bharata, and Shikhandi took on that brilliant Yaksha form.
ततः शिखण्डी पाञ्चाल्यः पुंस्त्वमासाद्य पार्थिव । विवेश नगरं हृष्टः पितरं च समासदत्
Thereafter, Shikhandi, the son of Drupada, having attained manhood, joyfully entered the city and approached his father.
यथावृत्तं तु तत्सर्वमाचख्यौ द्रुपदस्य तत्। `मातुश्च रहिते राजन्प्रसादं यक्षजं तदा।' द्रुपदस्तस्य तच्छ्रुत्वा हर्षमाहारयत्परम्
He recounted everything that had happened to Drupada, O king, and in private, told his mother about the Yaksha's favor; hearing this, Drupada felt the utmost joy.
सभार्यस्तच्च सस्मार महेश्वरवचस्तदा । ततः संप्रेषयामास दशार्णाधिपतेर्नृपः
With his wife, he remembered the words of great Shiva at that time, and then the king sent a message to the lord of Dasharna.
पुरुषोऽयं मम सुतः श्रद्धत्तां मे भवानिति । अथ दाशार्णको राजा सहसाभ्यागमत्तदा
"This son of mine is a man—let Your Majesty believe me." Then the king of Dasharna came at once.