Shloka 3

अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः

Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge

Devanagari script

वाचा भीष्मश्न शाल्वश्ल मम राज्ञि वशानुगौ । भविष्यतोडनवद्याड्धि तत्‌ करिष्यामि मा शुच:

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | vācā bhīṣmaś ca śālvaś ca mama rājñi vaśānugau | bhaviṣyato 'navadyāṅgi tat kariṣyāmi mā śucaḥ | rājakanýe! bhīṣmaḥ śālvaś ca ubhau mama ājñādhīnau bhaviṣyataḥ | ataḥ anavadyāṅgi sundari! ahaṃ tava kāryaṃ kariṣyāmi | tvaṃ śokaṃ mā kṛthāḥ |

Translation

Bhishma said: “O princess, by my word both Bhishma and Shalva will come under my command. Therefore, O flawless-limbed maiden, I will accomplish your purpose. Do not grieve.”

Word by Word

• वाचा: by speech/with words
• वाचा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• शाल्वः: Shalva
• शाल्वः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मम: of me/my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• राज्ञि: in/under the king (i.e., in the matter of the king's command)
• राज्ञि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• वशानुगौ: obedient/submissive (following control)
• वशानुगौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशानुग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• भविष्यतः: will be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Third, Dual

• अनवद्याङ्गि: O you of faultless limbs
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनवद्याङ्गिन्
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• तत्: that (task/thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• करिष्यामि: I will do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), First, Singular

• मा: do not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा

• शुचः: grieve
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुच्
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ) with prohibitive मा, Second, Singular

• राजकन्ये: O princess
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजकन्या
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Shalva
• Rajakanya (the princess addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A kṣatriya elder’s ethical stance: once a pledge is given, it must be upheld, and the vulnerable—especially a royal woman seeking protection—should be reassured and defended through responsible action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma addresses a princess, assuring her that both he and King Shalva will be under his direction, and he will carry out her requested matter; he consoles her not to grieve.