Shloka 24

अम्बाया रामजामदग्न्यशरणगमनम्

Ambā Seeks Refuge with Rāma Jāmadagnya

Devanagari script

ततो5भिवाद्य चरणौ रामस्य शिरसा शुभौ | स्पृष्टवा पद्मदलाभाभ्यां पाणिभ्यामग्रत: स्थिता,“बहुत अच्छा, कहो बेटी' इस प्रकार उस कन्याको जब परशुरामजीने प्रेरित किया; तब वह प्रज्वलित अग्निके समान तेजस्वी परशुरामजीके पास आयी और उनके कल्याणकारी चरणोंको सिरसे प्रणाम करके कमलदलके समान सुशोभित होनेवाले दोनों हाथोंसे उनका स्पर्श करती हुई सामने खड़ी हो गयी

Transliteration

tato 'bhivādya caraṇau rāmasya śirasā śubhau | spṛṣṭvā padmadalābhābhyāṃ pāṇibhyām agrataḥ sthitā ||

Translation

Lalu ia menundukkan kepala memberi hormat pada kaki suci Rāma (Paraśurāma), menyentuhnya dengan kedua tangan yang elok laksana kelopak teratai, dan berdiri di hadapannya.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

अभिवाद्यhaving saluted

चरणौthe two feet

रामस्यof Rama (Parashurama)

शिरसाwith (her) head

शुभौauspicious (two)

स्पृष्ट्वाhaving touched

पद्मदलाभाभ्याम्with (two) that are like lotus-petals

पाणिभ्याम्with (her) two hands

अग्रतःin front

स्थिताstood, remained standing

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Rāma (Paraśurāma)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights maryādā (proper conduct): approaching an elder/teacher with respectful salutation and self-restraint. Even when the situation is charged with anger or impending violence, dharmic etiquette—bowing, touching the feet, standing attentively—signals humility and recognition of authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being prompted by Paraśurāma (Rāma), the young woman comes before him, bows to his feet with her head, touches his feet with both lotus-like hands, and stands in front of him—formally presenting herself to speak or make her case.