Shloka 18

अम्बोपाख्याने तापसानां विचारः तथा होत्रवाहनस्य उपदेशः

Ambā among ascetics; Hotravāhana directs her to Paraśurāma

Devanagari script

भजस्व मां विशालाक्ष स्वयं कन्यामुपस्थिताम्‌ । अनन्यपूर्वा राजेन्द्र त्वत्प्रसादाभिकड्क्षणीम्‌,“विशाल नेत्रोंवाले महाराज! मैंने आजसे पहले किसी दूसरे पुरुषको अपना पति नहीं समझा है। मैं तुम्हारी कृपाकी अभिलाषा रखती हूँ। स्वयं ही अपनी सेवामें उपस्थित हुई मुझ कुमारी कन्याको धर्मपत्नीके रूपमें स्वीकार कीजिये”

Transliteration

bhajasva māṁ viśālākṣa svayaṁ kanyām upasthitām | ananyapūrvā rājendra tvatprasādābhikaṅkṣiṇīm ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “O large-eyed king, accept me—this maiden who has come of her own accord. I have never before belonged to any other man; I seek only your gracious favor. Receive me as your lawful wife.”

Word by Word

भजस्वaccept/choose (me); take (me as wife)

माम्me

विशालाक्षO large-eyed one

स्वयम्personally; of my own accord

कन्याम्a maiden/virgin girl

उपस्थिताम्who has come/appeared (before you); present

अनन्यपूर्वाhaving no other before (i.e., not previously belonging to another man)

राजेन्द्रO king of kings

त्वत्प्रसादाभिकाङ्क्षिणीम्desiring your favor/grace

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

King (addressed as Viśālākṣa / Rājendra)

the maiden (kanyā)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds dharma in marriage: a woman explicitly states her prior exclusivity (ananyapūrvā) and freely presents herself (svayam upasthitām), while the king is urged to respond with righteous acceptance and protection, aligning personal desire with social-ethical order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma quotes or conveys a maiden’s direct appeal to a king: she has come voluntarily, declares she has not accepted any other man before, and asks to be received as a lawful wife, seeking the king’s gracious consent.