Shloka 47
Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
ततः किल महावीर्यों भीष्म: शान्तनवो नृपान् | अधिक्षिप्य महातेजास्तिस्र: कन्या जहार ता:,कहते हैं उस अवसरपर महातेजस्वी और महा-पराक्रमी शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म सब राजाओंको जीतकर इन तीनों कन्याओंको हर लाये
tataḥ kila mahāvīryo bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo nṛpān | adhikṣipya mahātejās tisraḥ kanyā jahāra tāḥ |
അപ്പോൾ എന്നു പറയുന്നു—മഹാതേജസ്സും മഹാവീര്യവും ഉള്ള ശാന്തനുപുത്രൻ ഭീഷ്മൻ സമവേത രാജാക്കളെ ജയിച്ച് അപമാനപ്പെടുത്തി ആ മൂന്നു കന്യകളെയും അപഹരിച്ചു കൊണ്ടുപോയി.
होत्रवाहन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata concern: actions pursued for lineage and political necessity can clash with ethical ideals. Bhīṣma’s prowess achieves the goal, yet the method—publicly subduing kings and carrying off maidens—raises questions about consent, honor, and the limits of kṣatriya force within dharma.
Hotravāhana recounts that Bhīṣma, famed for valor, defeated/overawed the rival kings at an assembly and took away three princesses. This refers to the well-known episode of Bhīṣma seizing the three Kāśī princesses (commonly identified as Ambā, Ambikā, and Ambālikā) after confronting the kings present.