Shloka 28

Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

अब्रवीत्‌ पितरं मातु: सा तदा होत्रवाहनम्‌ । अभिवादयित्वा शिरसा गमिष्ये तव शासनात्‌,“वे महातपस्वी राम तुझे न्यायोचित मार्गपर प्रतिष्ठित करेंगे।। यह सुनकर अम्बा बारंबार आँसू बहाती हुई अपने नाना होत्रवाहनको मस्तक नवाकर प्रणाम करके मधुर स्वरमें इस प्रकार बोली--“नानाजी! मैं आपकी आज्ञासे वहाँ अवश्य जाऊँगी

Transliteration

abravīt pitaraṁ mātuḥ sā tadā hotravāhanam | abhivādayitvā śirasā gamiṣye tava śāsanāt ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ അംബ മാതാമഹനായ ഹോത്രവാഹനനെ ശിരസ്സു നമിച്ച് അഭിവാദ്യം ചെയ്ത് പറഞ്ഞു—“അങ്ങയുടെ ആജ്ഞപ്രകാരം ഞാൻ അവിടെ പോകും.”

Word by Word

• {'abravīt': 'she said, spoke', 'pitaraṁ': 'father

• here in context: elder/guardian addressed as an authority figure', 'mātuḥ': 'of (her) mother

• indicating maternal lineage', 'sā': 'she (Ambā)', 'tadā': 'then, at that time', 'hotravāhanam': 'Hotravāhana (proper name)

• also etymologically ‘one who bears/maintains the sacrificial fire’', 'abhivādayitvā': 'having saluted, having paid respectful obeisance', 'śirasā': 'with the head

• by bowing the head', 'gamiṣye': 'I shall go', 'tava': 'your', 'śāsanāt': 'from/according to command, instruction, authority'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Ambā
• Hotravāhana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed as respectful obedience to legitimate guidance: even in distress, one acts with humility, honors elders, and proceeds according to rightful instruction rather than impulse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ambā, weeping and troubled, approaches her maternal grandfather Hotravāhana, salutes him by bowing her head, and states that she will go as he commands—showing deference and readiness to follow his directive.