Shloka 14
अम्बा-शाल्वसंवादः | Amba’s Appeal to Śālva and His Refusal
वीर्यशुल्काश्न ता ज्ञात्वा समारोप्य रथं तदा | अवोचं पार्थिवान् सर्वानहं तत्र समागतान् | भीष्म: शान्तनव: कन्या हरतीति पुन: पुन:
vīryaśulkāś ca tā jñātvā samāropya rathaṃ tadā | avocaṃ pārthivān sarvān ahaṃ tatra samāgatān || bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavaḥ kanyā haratīti punaḥ punaḥ ||
ولمّا علمتُ أنّ مهرَهنّ إنما هو البأسُ والشجاعة، وبعد أن أجلسْتُهنّ على عربتي، خاطبتُ جميعَ الملوك المجتمعين هناك قائلاً: «إنّ بهيشما ابنَ شانتانو يختطفُ هذه الأميرات!» وكرّرتُ ذلك مرارًا وتكرارًا—لكي يبذلوا، على سنّةِ دهرما الكشاتريا، أقصى ما لديهم لإنقاذهنّ، إذ إنني كنتُ آخذُهنّ قسرًا على مرأىً منهم.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kshatriya ethical frame in which force is not concealed but openly declared and subjected to contest. By repeatedly announcing the abduction to the assembled kings, Bhishma invites rightful resistance, turning the act into a public trial of valor—‘valor as the bride-price’—and emphasizing honor, accountability, and the warrior code’s demand for open challenge.
Bhishma has placed the princesses on his chariot and, before departing, addresses all the gathered kings. He repeatedly proclaims that he—Bhishma, son of Shantanu—is carrying the maidens off, effectively daring the kings to try to stop him and rescue them, since he is taking them away by force in their presence.