Shloka 38
अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः
Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge
प्रणम्य तमहं मूर्थ्ना भूयो ब्राह्मणसत्तमम् । अब्रुवं कारणं कि तद् यत् त्वं युद्ध मयेच्छसि
praṇamya tam ahaṃ mūrdhnā bhūyo brāhmaṇasattamam | abruvaṃ kāraṇaṃ kiṃ tad yat tvaṃ yuddham icchasi ||
Bowing again with my head to that foremost of Brahmins, I asked: “What is the reason for this—that you wish to fight? You yourself instructed me in the disciplines of archery in my youth; O mighty Bhārgava, I am your disciple.”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid impending violence, dharma begins with humility and inquiry: the disciple first offers reverence to the teacher and seeks the ethical reason behind conflict, highlighting the tension between gratitude to one’s guru and the demands of kṣatriya duty.
Rāma respectfully bows again to the revered Brahmin (understood as the Bhārgava teacher) and asks why he wants to fight, reminding him that he had taught Rāma the arts of archery in youth—thus framing the coming battle as a painful guru–disciple confrontation.