Shloka 35
अम्बोपाख्याने तापसानां विचारः तथा होत्रवाहनस्य उपदेशः
Ambā among ascetics; Hotravāhana directs her to Paraśurāma
को नु भीष्म॑ युधा जेतुमुत्सहेत महीपति: । एवं सा परिनिश्चित्य जगाम नगराद् बहि:,'परंतु कौन ऐसा राजा है जो युद्धके द्वारा भीष्मको परास्त कर सके।' ऐसा निश्चय करके वह नगरसे बाहर चली गयी
ko nu bhīṣmaṃ yudhā jetum utsaheta mahīpatiḥ | evaṃ sā pariniścitya jagāma nagarād bahiḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “Who indeed among kings could dare to conquer Bhīṣma in battle?” Having thus come to a firm conclusion, she went out from the city.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the realistic appraisal of strength and consequence in dharmic decision-making: recognizing an invincible warrior like Bhīṣma makes the prospect of war both strategically futile and ethically grave, prompting a decisive course of action.
Bhīṣma voices a rhetorical question about who could possibly defeat him in battle; then the narrative notes that “she,” having reached a firm conclusion based on this assessment, leaves the city.