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Shloka 2

अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः

Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge

काश्ये न काम गृह्नामि शस्त्र वै वरवर्णिनि । ऋते ब्रह्मविदां हेतो: किमनयत्‌ करवाणि ते

kāśye na kāma gṛhṇāmi śastraṃ vai varavarṇini | ṛte brahmavidāṃ hetoḥ kim anyat karavāṇi te ||

ಶುಭವರ್ಣಿನಿ ಕಾಶಿರಾಜಕುಮಾರಿಯೇ! ನಾನು ಕೇವಲ ಸ್ವಇಚ್ಛೆಯಿಂದ ಶಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವಿದರಾದ ವೇದಜ್ಞರ ಹಿತ-ರಕ್ಷಣೆಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಕಾರಣವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ನಾನು ಆಯುಧ ಧರಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞೆಯನ್ನು ಕಾಪಾಡುತ್ತಾ, ನಿನಗೆ ಇನ್ನೇನು ಸೇವೆ ಮಾಡಲಿ?

काश्येin/for (the matter of) Kāśī
काश्ये:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकाशी
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
कामat will; desire (as object: 'as I wish')
काम:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकाम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
गृह्णामिI take; I seize
गृह्णामि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootग्रह्
FormPresent, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada
शस्त्रweapon
शस्त्र:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशस्त्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
वैindeed; surely
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
वरवर्णिनिO fair-complexioned (lady)
वरवर्णिनि:
TypeNoun
Rootवरवर्णिनी
FormFeminine, Vocative, Singular
ऋतेexcept; without
ऋते:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootऋते
ब्रह्मविदाम्of the knowers of the Veda/Brahman
ब्रह्मविदाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मविद्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
हेतोःfor the sake of; because of (a reason)
हेतोः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootहेतु
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
किम्what?
किम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अन्यत्other; else
अन्यत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
करवाणिshould I do?
करवाणि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada
तेfor you; to you
ते:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormDative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
P
Paraśurāma
A
Ambā
K
Kāśī (Kāśirājā’s princess)
Ś
śastra (weapons)

Educational Q&A

The verse emphasizes ethical restraint: weapons should not be taken up from personal desire or impulse. One must act within the bounds of one’s vow and dharma, using force only for a legitimate, principled cause.

In the Ambā–Bhīṣma–Paraśurāma episode, Ambā urges Paraśurāma to kill Bhīṣma. Paraśurāma replies that he cannot take up arms merely at will; he is bound by his vow and will fight only when a proper cause—especially connected with the duty toward learned Brahmins—arises, and he asks what else he can do for her while keeping his pledge.