Shloka 10
Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
ततस्त्वन्येडब्रुवन् वाक्यं तापसास्तां तपस्विनीम्,तदनन्तर दूसरे तापसोंने उस तपस्विनीसे कहा--“इस निर्जन गहन वनमें तुम्हें अकेली देख कितने ही राजा तुमसे प्रणय-प्रार्थना करेंगे, अतः तुम इस प्रकार तपस्या करनेका विचार न करो”
tatas tv anye 'bruvan vākyaṃ tāpasās tāṃ tapasvinīm | tad-anantaraṃ dvitīyāḥ tāpasāḥ tāṃ tapasvinīm ūcuḥ—“asmin nirjane gahane vane tvāṃ ekākīṃ dṛṣṭvā bahavo rājānas tvāṃ praṇaya-prārthanāṃ kariṣyanti; ataḥ tvaṃ evaṃ tapasā kartum na cintaya” ||
Kemudian para pertapa lainnya berkata kepada perempuan yang tekun bertapa itu: “Melihat engkau seorang diri di rimba yang sunyi dan lebat ini, banyak raja akan datang memohon cinta kepadamu. Karena itu, janganlah engkau menetapkan hati untuk bertapa dengan cara demikian.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudence within dharma: spiritual resolve (tapas) should be pursued with awareness of social realities and personal safety. The ascetics caution that solitude can invite unwanted attention, so one should choose circumstances that protect both bodily security and the integrity of one’s vow.
Bhishma narrates that other ascetics speak to a woman practicing austerities. They warn her that, being alone in a remote forest, she may attract kings who will make romantic advances, and they advise her not to undertake her penance in such a vulnerable manner.