Shloka 9

अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः

Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge

Devanagari script

शरणागतां महाबाहो कन्यां न त्यक्तुमरहसि । यदि भीष्मो रणे राम समाहूतस्त्वया मृधे

Transliteration

śaraṇāgatāṃ mahābāho kanyāṃ na tyaktum arhasi | yadi bhīṣmo raṇe rāma samāhūtas tvayā mṛdhe |

Translation

Bhishma said: “O mighty-armed one, you must not abandon this maiden who has come seeking refuge. O Rama, descendant of Bhṛgu—if, when you summon him to battle, Bhishma comes before you in the fight and accepts defeat or yields to your command, then this maiden’s purpose will be fulfilled.”

Word by Word

• शरणागताम्: one who has come for refuge
• शरणागताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरणागत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• कन्याम्: the maiden
• कन्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• त्यक्तुम्: to abandon
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (tumun)

• अरहसि: you ought / you are fit
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: Present, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

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

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• राम: O Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• समाहूतः: having been summoned/challenged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-ह्वा (धातु) → समाहूत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (kta)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental, Singular

• मृधे: in combat
• मृधे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृध्/मृधा (प्रातिपदिक; युद्धार्थक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Rama (Parashurama)
• the maiden (kanyā; Amba in context)
• battle/combat (raṇa, mṛdha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A person who has sought refuge must not be abandoned; protecting the śaraṇāgata is presented as a binding ethical duty, even amid conflict and questions of honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma addresses Rama (Paraśurāma) regarding a maiden who has come for protection (Amba in the broader episode). He urges that she should not be forsaken and suggests that if Bhishma, when challenged, yields or accepts defeat in battle, her objective will be achieved.