Shloka 27

Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

प्रतिष्ठापयिता स त्वां समे पथि महातपा: । ततस्तु सुस्वरं बाष्पमुत्सृजन्ती पुन: पुन:,“वे महातपस्वी राम तुझे न्यायोचित मार्गपर प्रतिष्ठित करेंगे।। यह सुनकर अम्बा बारंबार आँसू बहाती हुई अपने नाना होत्रवाहनको मस्तक नवाकर प्रणाम करके मधुर स्वरमें इस प्रकार बोली--“नानाजी! मैं आपकी आज्ञासे वहाँ अवश्य जाऊँगी

Transliteration

pratiṣṭhāpayitā sa tvāṃ same pathi mahātapāḥ | tatastu susvaraṃ bāṣpam utsṛjantī punaḥ punaḥ |

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Jener große Asket wird dich auf dem ebenen Pfad des Rechten fest begründen.“ Als Ambā dies hörte, vergoss sie immer wieder Tränen; mit sanfter Stimme neigte sie ehrfürchtig das Haupt vor ihrem mütterlichen Großvater Hotravāhana und sprach.

Word by Word

• {'pratiṣṭhāpayitā': 'one who will establish, set firmly (in a course or position)', 'saḥ': 'he', 'tvām': 'you', 'same pathi': 'on the even/straight path

• on the fair and proper course', 'mahātapāḥ': 'a great ascetic

• one of great austerity', 'tataḥ tu': 'then, thereafter', 'susvaram': 'with a sweet/pleasant voice

• melodiously', 'bāṣpam': 'tears', 'utsṛjantī': 'shedding, letting flow', 'punaḥ punaḥ': 'again and again, repeatedly'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Amba
• Rama (Parashurama, implied by context as the great ascetic)
• Hotravahana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames dharma as a ‘straight/even path’ and presents the ideal of being firmly established in a just course through the guidance of a great ascetic; ethical rectitude is portrayed as something one can be set upon and stabilized in, even amid intense grief.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates that a great ascetic (contextually Parashurama) will place Amba on the rightful path; upon hearing this assurance, Amba repeatedly weeps and respectfully bows to her maternal grandfather Hotravahana, preparing to speak and to act according to the instruction given.