Shloka 18
अम्बोपाख्याने तापसानां विचारः तथा होत्रवाहनस्य उपदेशः
Ambā among ascetics; Hotravāhana directs her to Paraśurāma
भजस्व मां विशालाक्ष स्वयं कन्यामुपस्थिताम् । अनन्यपूर्वा राजेन्द्र त्वत्प्रसादाभिकड्क्षणीम्
bhajasva māṁ viśālākṣa svayaṁ kanyām upasthitām | ananyapūrvā rājendra tvatprasādābhikaṅkṣiṇīm ||
भीष्म ने कहा— “विशालाक्ष महाराज! स्वयं उपस्थित इस कुमारी को स्वीकार कीजिये। मैं पहले कभी किसी अन्य की नहीं रही; मैं केवल आपके प्रसाद की अभिलाषिणी हूँ। मुझे धर्मपत्नी के रूप में ग्रहण कीजिये।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma in marriage: a woman explicitly states her prior exclusivity (ananyapūrvā) and freely presents herself (svayam upasthitām), while the king is urged to respond with righteous acceptance and protection, aligning personal desire with social-ethical order.
Bhīṣma quotes or conveys a maiden’s direct appeal to a king: she has come voluntarily, declares she has not accepted any other man before, and asks to be received as a lawful wife, seeking the king’s gracious consent.