Section CXCI - Sikhandin's Transformation: Tale of Gender Change in Epic Battle
Book index: Mahabharata (English)
This page contains a summary of the Mahabharata Section CXCI including examples of moral lessons in daily life. The Maha-Bharata is one of the largest epics ever written containing roughly 100,000 Sanskrit verses. It deals with the legendary history of ancient India and contains a large number of interwoven tales.
Short summary of the chapter:
King Drupada, desperate for a son to seek revenge on Bhishma, prayed to Lord Siva for a male child. However, Siva granted him a daughter who would later become a man. Drupada's queen gave birth to a daughter, but they kept this a secret and raised the child as a boy named Sikhandin, performing all the rites prescribed for a male child. Only Drupada and a few others knew the truth about the child's gender.
Though Sikhandin was raised as a boy, only a few people knew the truth about her true gender, with the secret being well-kept. Drupada's determination for a son led to the deception of raising Sikhandin as a male and hiding her true identity. Despite being born a daughter, Sikhandin was brought up as a boy with all the rites and responsibilities of a male heir. This deception, driven by Drupada's desire for a son, set the stage for Sikhandin's role in the future events of the Mahabharata.
The gender deception surrounding Sikhandin's birth and upbringing remained a closely guarded secret, known only to a few close individuals. Drupada and his queen maintained the illusion of raising a male child while concealing the truth from the rest of the world. The significance of Sikhandin being born as a female but raised as a male adds complexity and depth to her character in the Mahabharata narrative. This hidden truth about Sikhandin’s identity would later play a crucial role in the events of the epic.
Sikhandin's unique upbringing as a female raised as a male added a layer of intrigue and complexity to her character, setting the stage for her future actions and decisions in the Mahabharata. The deception surrounding her birth and identity was a crucial element in shaping Sikhandin's path and role in the epic. This secret played a significant role in Sikhandin's personal journey and her impact on the larger narrative of the Mahabharata. The revelation of Sikhandin's true gender would have far-reaching consequences in the unfolding of the epic tale.
Full English translation:
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Section CXCI, online text
English translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli.
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Mahabharata (English Summary)
by Kisari Mohan Ganguli | ISBN-10: 8121505933
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FAQ of Mahabharata, Section CXCI:
Can you explain how Sikhandin became both a daughter and a son?
Drupada prayed for a son to seek revenge on Bhishma. However, Shiva decreed that his child would be born as a female first before becoming a male.
How did Drupada and his wife hide the truth about Sikhandin's gender?
Despite giving birth to a daughter, Drupada and his wife claimed Sikhandin was a son. They performed all rites for a male child and kept the real sex a secret.
Daily life: Sikhandin's Transformation: Tale of Gender Change in Epic Battle:
The story of Sikhandin from the Mahabharata teaches us about acceptance, determination, and the power of destiny. In daily life, it encourages us to embrace ourselves and others for who they truly are, regardless of societal expectations or norms. The tale shows the lengths to which individuals might go, driven by their desires or to fulfill a purpose, as seen in Drupada's penance and subsequent acceptance of his child's unique destiny.
It highlights the importance of perseverance, shown by Drupada's efforts to seek blessings for a child, and later, his and his wife's decision to raise Sikhandin initially as a son, in line with the prophecy. This story also serves as a reminder that while we can strive for specific outcomes, ultimately, some things are beyond our control and must be accepted as part of our destiny.
Incorporating this narrative into daily life involves understanding and accepting the complexities of identity and destiny, showing compassion towards others' journeys, and recognizing that our actions, influenced by our desires and efforts to change our fate, can lead to unforeseen outcomes. It's about finding harmony between our efforts to shape our lives and the acceptance of life's twists, guided by a higher understanding of destiny.