Shloka 10
अम्बोपाख्याने तापसानां विचारः तथा होत्रवाहनस्य उपदेशः
Ambā among ascetics; Hotravāhana directs her to Paraśurāma
अम्बा तमब्रवीद् राजन्ननड्रशरपीडिता । नैवं वद महीपाल नैतदेवं कथंचन
ambā tam abravīd rājann anaṅgaśara-pīḍitā | naivaṁ vada mahīpāla naitad evaṁ kathaṁcana ||
Amba, yang tersiksa oleh panah dewa cinta yang tak berwujud, berkata: “Wahai Raja, jangan berkata demikian. Wahai penguasa bumi, sama sekali bukan begitu. Aku tidak pergi bersama Bhishma dengan rela atau dengan gembira; setelah menghalau para raja yang berkumpul, ia merenggutku dengan paksa, dan aku pergi bersamanya sambil menangis.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage foregrounds ethical accountability in relationships and political decisions: Amba insists on truthfully stating that her removal by Bhishma was not voluntary, highlighting the moral weight of consent and the consequences of force even within royal customs.
Amba, distressed by love and rejection, addresses King Shalva and refutes any claim that she went to Bhishma willingly. She clarifies that Bhishma forcibly abducted her after routing other kings, and she accompanied him only while crying.