Shloka 26
Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
हनिष्यति रणे भीष्मं न करिष्यति चेद् वच: । त॑ गच्छ भार्गवश्रेष्ठ कालाग्निसमतेजसम्,“यदि भीष्म उनकी बात नहीं मानेंगे तो वे युद्धमें उन्हें मार डालेंगे। भार्गवश्रेष्ठ परशुराम प्रलय-कालकी अग्निके समान तेजस्वी हैं। तू उन््हींकी शरणमें जा
haniṣyati raṇe bhīṣmaṃ na kariṣyati ced vacaḥ | taṃ gaccha bhārgavaśreṣṭhaṃ kālāgnisamatejasam ||
“Jika Bhīṣma tidak menuruti ucapannya, ia akan menewaskan Bhīṣma di medan perang. Maka pergilah kepada yang utama di antara kaum Bhārgava—Paraśurāma—yang cahayanya laksana api pada akhir zaman.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how coercion can be used to force compliance with a ‘word’ or command, and it suggests an ethical response: seek protection or arbitration from a higher, formidable authority rather than submit to violence-driven demands.
Bhishma reports a threat—if Bhishma does not comply, he will be killed in battle—and advises going to Paraśurāma, famed for overwhelming power, as a means of refuge or intervention.