Shloka 96
Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
आश्रमे वै वसन्त्यास्ते न भवेयु: पितुर्गहि । 'भामिनि! एक तो तुम राजकुमारी और दूसरे स्वभावतः सुकुमारी हो, अतः सुन्दरी! यहाँ आश्रममें तुम्हारे रहनेसे अनेक दोष प्रकट हो सकते हैं। पिताके घरमें वे दोष नहीं प्राप्त होंगे!
āśrame vai vasantyāste na bhaveyuḥ pitur gṛhe | bhāmini! eka to tvaṃ rājakumārī dvitīyaṃ svabhāvataḥ sukumārī asi, ataḥ sundari! iha āśrame tava vāsenāneka-doṣāḥ prakaṭī-bhaviṣyanti; pituḥ gṛhe tu te doṣā na prāpsyante ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Si permaneces viviendo en un eremitorio de ascetas, pueden surgir faltas y sospechas que jamás surgirían en la casa de tu padre. Oh mujer de ánimo ardiente: primero, eres una princesa; y segundo, por naturaleza eres delicada. Por eso, oh hermosa, tu estancia aquí en el eremitorio puede dar lugar a muchas impropiedades y a la censura pública; pero en el hogar de tu padre tales manchas no se te adherirán.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma emphasizes practical dharma: a person’s conduct must also be safeguarded from situations that invite suspicion or public blame. He advises choosing a socially secure setting (the father’s home) over a vulnerable one (a hermitage) to prevent avoidable ‘doṣa’—moral or reputational blemish.
Bhīṣma is addressing a young royal woman and discouraging her from staying in an āśrama. He argues that, because she is both a princess and naturally delicate, her residence in a hermitage could lead to many perceived improprieties, whereas such accusations would not arise if she stayed in her father’s household.