Shloka 4
Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
एवं गते तु कि शक्यं भद्ठे कर्तु मनीषिभि: । पुनरूचुश्न तां सर्वे तापसा: संशितव्रता:,“भट्रे! ऐसी स्थितिमें मनीषी तापस कया कर सकते हैं? ऐसा कहकर वे कठोर व्रतका पालन करनेवाले सभी तापस उस राजकन्यासे फिर बोले--
evaṁ gate tu kiṁ śakyaṁ bhadre kartuṁ manīṣibhiḥ | punar ūcuś ca tāṁ sarve tāpasāḥ saṁśitavratāḥ ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Da die Dinge so weit gekommen waren, was konnten weise Asketen noch tun, o edle Dame?“ So sprechend wandten sich all jene strengen Weisen, standhaft in ihren harten Gelübden, erneut an die Prinzessin.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a moral crisis, even the wise recognize limits to action; the verse highlights humility and discernment—acknowledging what can and cannot be done—before offering further counsel grounded in dharma.
Bhishma narrates that, as the situation became difficult, the ascetics reflect on what is possible for them to do and then speak again to the princess, preparing to give further guidance.