अम्बोपाख्यान पर्व — शिखण्डीको जन्मको कथा; हिरण्यवर्माको दूतको आगमन

Bhishma said Drupada bestowed all possible care on all the (necessary) accomplishments of his daughter, O vanquisher of foes, teaching her writing, painting and all the arts.

And in (the practice of) arrows and (other) weapons O great king, she became a disciple of Drona. And O great king, the mother of that child, a lady of the fairest complexion, urged the king for a wife for that daughter, as if she were a son. Thereupon the sin of Prishata, perceiving her to have attained youth, became thoughtful along with his wife, considering her to be a female.

Drupada said This daughter of mine, who now adds to my woe, has attained her youth. And she has been concealed by me on the strength of the) words of the holders of the trident.

His wife said Ogreat king, that (word) will never prove false. How can it be proper for the Creator of the three worlds to speak anything false on this earth?

If it pleases you, O king, hear what I say. And then having listened to it, the descendant of Prishata may take to his own wisdom.

According to due rites, cause him to take a wife, with all care. Those words of him (Shiva) will turn out true, even this is my firm belief.

Then that royal couple, making a firm resolution as regards that work, chose as a bride the maiden daughter of the king Dasharnakas.

Thereupon the king Drupada, the lion among kings, having heard of the (respective) purity if descent of the lineage of all kings, chose the daughter of the king of the Dasharnaka territory as the wife of Shikhandin.

That king Dasharnaka, known Hiranyavarman (or the golden-armoured) even that ruler of earth gave away his daughter to that Shikhandin.

And throughout all the Dasharnaka territories that king was a mighty one, and incapable of being conquered. He protected by a golden Armour, was irresistible, had a large army and was high-souled.

And some time after the wedding had been performed, that daughter, O best of kings, attained her youth; and that daughter, Shikhandin, had also attained her youth.

as was And Shikandin, being wedded, returned to Kampilya. And then after a certain time she (daughter of Hiranyavarma) came to know her to be a woman. And the daughter of Hiranyavarman, knowing Shikhandin to be a woman,

Represented to her nurses and lady companions with shame (this fact) about the maiden daughter of the king of the Panchalas, viz. Shikhandin.

Then those nurses from the Dasharnaka territories, O best among kings, became greatly afflicted, and dispatched emissaries (to their king).

Thereupon all the emissaries to the king of the Dasharnaka territories informed him of the deception that had been practice, as it had happened. And that king became filled with anger.

And, O great king, Shikhandin also at that time conducted himself like a male at the royal court with great joy, setting aside as it were his feminine nature.

After the lapse of a few days, O best of the race of Bharata, on hearing of this fact (Shikhandin bearing himself like a male), Hiranyavarman, O great king, was afflicted with anger.

Thereupon the king of Dasharna country, being filled with terrible anger, sent an ambassador to the court of king Drupada.

Then the ambassador of the goldenarmoured king having alone approached the king Drupada, took him aside and spoken these words to him in private.

The king of the Dasharna country, O king, has spoken these words to you, being deceived by you and enraged with you at the deception, O sinless one.

"You have insulted me. Surely it was not considerately done that you wanted my daughter for your daughter from folly.

Take now the fruit of that act of deception, O wicked one, for I will now slay you with all your relatives and ministers. Wait a bit.”