Shloka 93
अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः
Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge
तत्पश्चात् मेरी जन्मदायिनी माता गंगाने भूगुनन्दन परशुरामजीके पास जाकर मेरे लिये उनसे क्षमा माँगी ।।
tataḥ paścāt merī janmadāyinī mātā gaṅgāne bhṛgunandana-paraśurāma-jīke pāsa jākar mere liye unse kṣamā māṅgī || bhīṣmeṇa saha mā yotsīḥ śiṣyeṇeti vaco 'bravīt | sa ca tām āha yācantīṃ bhīṣmam eva nivartaya | na ca me kurute kāmam ity ahaṃ tam upāgamam ||
Danach ging meine gebärende Mutter Gaṅgā zu Paraśurāma, dem Ruhm des Bhṛgu‑Geschlechts, und flehte um meinetwillen. Sie sprach: „Kämpfe nicht gegen Bhīṣma; er ist dein Schüler.“ Doch Paraśurāma erwiderte der Bittenden: „Bring zuerst Bhīṣma selbst dazu, vom Kampf abzulassen. Er handelt nicht nach meinem Willen; darum bin ich gegen ihn vorgerückt.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between authority and autonomy: even a revered teacher (Paraśurāma) expects obedience, while the disciple (Bhīṣma) acts from his own dharma. It also shows a mediator’s role (Gaṅgā) urging restraint, emphasizing that conflicts should be checked first by self-withdrawal and discipline rather than escalation.
Bhīṣma narrates that his mother Gaṅgā went to Paraśurāma to seek pardon and to stop the fight, reminding him that Bhīṣma is his disciple. Paraśurāma refuses to desist unless Bhīṣma first withdraws, stating that Bhīṣma is not complying with his wish, which is why he has taken up arms against him.