Shloka 12
Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
अस्बोवाच न शक्यं काशिनगरं पुनर्गन्तुं पितुर्गहान् । अवज्ञाता भविष्यामि बान्धवानां न संशय:,अम्बा बोली--तापसो! अब मेरे लिये पुनः काशिनगरमें पिताके घर लौट जाना असम्भव है; क्योंकि वहाँ मुझे बन्धु-बान्धवोंमें अपमानित होकर रहना पड़ेगा
ambovāca na śakyaṃ kāśīnagaraṃ punargantuṃ pitur gṛhān | avajñātā bhaviṣyāmi bāndhavānāṃ na saṃśayaḥ ||
അംബ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ തപസ്വീ! വീണ്ടും കാശീനഗരത്തിലേക്ക്, പിതാവിന്റെ ഗൃഹത്തിലേക്ക് മടങ്ങുക എനിക്കു സാധ്യമല്ല. സ്വന്തം ബന്ധുക്കളുടെ ഇടയിൽ ഞാൻ അവജ്ഞയും അപമാനവും സഹിച്ച് ജീവിക്കേണ്ടിവരും; സംശയമില്ല.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how social notions of honor and reputation can constrain personal choices: Amba foresees that returning to her paternal home would subject her to lasting contempt among her own kin, showing the ethical weight (and burden) of public perception in dharma-based society.
Amba addresses an ascetic and explains that she cannot go back to Kāśī and her father’s household, because her relatives would dishonor her; this statement frames her predicament and motivates her continued search for a resolution to the wrong she believes has been done to her.