Bhagavad Gita · Mahabharata Codex

Shikhandi

शिखण्डी · śikhaṇḍī

Prince of Panchala; the one warrior Bhishma will not fight

A wronged woman swore to bring down Bhishma, and returned in another life to do it.

Shikhandi was born a daughter to King Drupada and raised as a son; a forest spirit later exchanged sexes with him. In his previous life he was Amba, the princess whose life Bhishma had ruined. Bhishma knew this and vowed never to raise a weapon against one born a woman. On the tenth day Arjuna shot from behind Shikhandi, and Bhishma let the arrows come.