Shloka 21
अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः
Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge
ततस्ते तामुषित्वा तु रजनीं तत्र तापसा: । हुताग्नयो जप्तजप्या: प्रतस्थुर्मज्जिघांसया
tatas te tām uṣitvā tu rajanīṁ tatra tāpasāḥ | hutāgnayo japtajapyāḥ pratasthur majjighāṁsayā ||
Then, after spending that night there, those ascetics—having tended the sacred fire and completed their prescribed recitations—set out from that hermitage at dawn, driven by the intent to kill me.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that ritual purity (fire-offerings, japa) does not automatically guarantee moral purity; ethical evaluation in dharma depends crucially on intention (bhāva). Hostile intent can corrupt actions that appear outwardly pious.
After staying the night at the hermitage, the ascetics complete their morning rites—tending the sacred fire and reciting mantras—and then depart with the purpose of killing the speaker, Rama.