Shloka 22
अम्बा-शाल्वसंवादः | Amba’s Appeal to Śālva and His Refusal
ते निवृत्ताश्न भग्नाश्न दृष्टवा तल्लाघवं मम । (प्रणिपेतुश्न सर्वे वै प्रशशंसुश्न पार्थिवा: । तत आदाय ता: कन्या नृपतींश्व विसृज्य तान् ॥। ) अथाहं हास्तिनपुरमायां जित्वा महीक्षित:
te nivṛttāś ca bhagnāś ca dṛṣṭvā tal-lāghavaṁ mama | praṇipetuś ca sarve vai praśaśaṁsuś ca pārthivāḥ || tata ādāya tāḥ kanyā nṛpatīṁś ca visṛjya tān | athāhaṁ hāstinapuraṁ āyāṁ jitvā mahīkṣitaḥ ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Als sie meine Schnelligkeit und Kraft sahen, wichen sie zurück, brachen die Reihen und flohen. Da verneigten sich all jene Könige vor mir und priesen mich. Danach, nachdem ich die Herrscher bezwungen und sie dort zurückgelassen hatte, nahm ich die Jungfrauen mit mir und kehrte als Sieger nach Hastināpura zurück.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sheer martial prowess can compel submission, yet it also invites ethical reflection: actions performed under the banner of dynastic or kṣatriya duty can carry moral consequences, especially when power is exercised over others’ autonomy.
Bhishma describes routing the assembled kings, who then bow and praise him. After defeating them, he takes the princesses and returns to Hastinapura, presenting the outcome as a victorious completion of his mission.