Shloka 38
अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः
Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge
प्रणम्य तमहं मूर्थ्ना भूयो ब्राह्मणसत्तमम् । अब्रुवं कारणं कि तद् यत् त्वं युद्ध मयेच्छसि
praṇamya tam ahaṃ mūrdhnā bhūyo brāhmaṇasattamam | abruvaṃ kāraṇaṃ kiṃ tad yat tvaṃ yuddham icchasi ||
そこで私は再び頭を垂れ、あの最上のバラモンの足下に額づいて礼拝し、こう問うた。「尊き御方よ、なぜ私と戦おうとなさるのですか。幼き頃、弓術と武器の四つの道を教えてくださったのは他ならぬあなたです。強腕のバーर्गヴァよ、私はあなたの弟子です。」
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid impending violence, dharma begins with humility and inquiry: the disciple first offers reverence to the teacher and seeks the ethical reason behind conflict, highlighting the tension between gratitude to one’s guru and the demands of kṣatriya duty.
Rāma respectfully bows again to the revered Brahmin (understood as the Bhārgava teacher) and asks why he wants to fight, reminding him that he had taught Rāma the arts of archery in youth—thus framing the coming battle as a painful guru–disciple confrontation.