Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
न होत्सहे स्वनगरं प्रतियातुं तपोधन । अपमानभयाच्चैव व्रीडया च महामुने
na hotsahe svanagaraṁ pratiyātuṁ tapodhana | apamānabhayāccaiva vrīḍayā ca mahāmune ||
ഹേ തപോധന, മഹാമുനേ! അപമാനഭയവും ലജ്ജയും കാരണം ഞാൻ എന്റെ നഗരത്തിലേക്ക് മടങ്ങാൻ ധൈര്യമെടുക്കുന്നില്ല।
होत्रवाहन उवाच
The verse highlights how fear of dishonor and inner shame can restrain a person’s actions; it implicitly raises an ethical tension between social reputation and the courage to face consequences.
Hotravāhana addresses a great ascetic and confesses that he cannot return to his own city because he anticipates public humiliation and feels deep shame.