Shloka 55
Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
प्रत्याचख्यौ च शाल्वो<स्याश्चारित्रस्याभिशड्कित: । सेयं तपोवन प्राप्ता तापस्येडभिरता भृशम्,शाल्वराजको इसके चरित्रपर संदेह हुआ; अतः उसने इसके प्रस्तावको ठुकरा दिया है। इस कारण तपस्यामें अत्यन्त अनुरक्त होकर यह इस तपोवनमें आयी है
pratyācakhyau ca śālvo 'syāś cāritrasyābhiśaṅkitaḥ | seyaṃ tapovanaṃ prāptā tāpasyedabhiratā bhṛśam ||
Doch Śālva, der an ihrer Sittsamkeit zweifelte, wies ihr Ansinnen zurück. Darum ist sie, innig der Askese (tapas) ergeben, in diesen Wald der Entsagung gekommen.
होत्रवाहन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical tension in dharma: social suspicion about a person's character can lead to rejection and suffering, yet the response shown here is a turn toward tapas—inner discipline and moral self-cultivation—rather than retaliation.
Hotravāhana explains that King Śālva doubted the woman's conduct and refused her proposal; as a result, she has come to a forest hermitage and has become intensely devoted to ascetic practice.