Exception

Exception

A Nano Drama

Śikhaṇḍin (blowing conch): "Hiding behind Aśvatthāman and Droṇa, your life's last seven days ... Face your death!"

Bhīṣma (laughing): "Wait, Ambā!"

Śikhaṇḍin (uncomprehending): "Who? 'Mother' ... Gaṅgā?"

Bhīṣma (blowing conch): "Pāṇḍu's five sons want to fight me together. I'll enjoy that battle first, then die."

Bhīṣma's arrow breaks Śikhaṇḍin's bow. Śikhaṇḍin falters.

Canonical basis: Bhīṣmaparvan 81.17-23

chinn'āyudhaṃ Śāṃtanavena rājā

Śikhaṇḍinaṃ prekṣya ca jāta-kopaḥ

Ajātaśatruḥ samare mah'ātmā

Śikhaṇḍinaṃ kruddha uvāca vākyam

uktvā tathā tvaṃ pitur agrato mām

ahaṃ haniṣyāmi mahā-vrataṃ tam

Bhīṣmaṃ śar'aughair vimal'ārka-varṇaiḥ

satyaṃ vadām'īti kṛtā pratijñā

tvayā na c'aināṃ saphalāṃ karoṣi

Devavrataṃ yan na nihaṃsi yuddhe

mithyā-pratijño bhava mā nṛ-vīra

rakṣasva dharmaṃ ca kulaṃ yaśaś ca

prekṣasva Bhīṣmaṃ yudhi bhīma-vegaṃ

sarvāṃs tapantaṃ mama sainya-saṃghān

śar'augha-jālair atitigma-tejaiḥ

kālaṃ yathā mṛtyu-kṛtaṃ kṣaṇena

nikṛtta-cāpaḥ samar'ānapekṣaḥ

parājitaḥ Śāṃtanavena rājñā

vihāya bandhūn atha sodarāṃś ca

kva yāsyase n'ānurūpaṃ tav'edam

dṛṣṭvā hi Bhīṣmaṃ tam ananta-vīryaṃ

bhagnaṃ ca sainyaṃ dravamāṇam evam

bhīto'si nūnaṃ Drupadasya putra

tathā hi te mukhavarṇo'prahṛṣṭaḥ

ājñāyamāne'pi Dhanaṃjayena

mah'āhave saṃprasakte nṛ-vīra

kathaṃ hi Bhīṣmāt prathitaḥ pṛthivyāṃ

bhayaṃ tvam adya prakaroṣi vīra

Canonical basis: Bhīṣmaparvan 113.38-39

Draupadeyāḥ Śikhaṇḍī ca KuntiBhojaś ca vīryavān

Suśarmā ca Virāṭaś ca Pāṇḍaveyā mahā-balāḥ

ete c'ānye ca bahavaḥ pīḍitā Bhīṣma-sāyakaiḥ

samuddhṛtāḥ Phalgunena nimagnāḥ śoka-sāgare