Shloka 8
Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
गति: पति: समस्थाया विषमे च पिता गति: । प्रत्रज्या हि सुदु:खेयं सुकुमार्या विशेषत:,“सुखकी परिस्थितिमें नारीके लिये पति आश्रय होता है और संकटकालमें उसके लिये पिताका आश्रय लेना उत्तम है। विशेषतः तुम सुकुमारी हो, अतः तुम्हारे लिये यह प्रव्रज्या (गृहत्याग) अत्यन्त दुःखसाध्य है
gatiḥ patiḥ samasthāyā viṣame ca pitā gatiḥ | pravrajyā hi suduḥkheyam sukumāryā viśeṣataḥ ||
ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—സ്ഥിതി സമമായിരിക്കുമ്പോൾ സ്ത്രീയുടെ ആശ്രയം ഭർത്താവാണ്; വിഷമസമയത്ത് പിതാവാണ് ആശ്രയം. പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് നീ സുകുമാരിയായതിനാൽ, ഈ പ്രവ്രജ്യ—ഗൃഹത്യാഗം—നിനക്കു അത്യന്തം ദുഃഖസാധ്യമാണ്.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma frames ethical counsel in terms of appropriate refuge (gati): in ordinary life a woman relies on her husband, but in calamity she may rightly seek her father’s protection; he also warns that renunciation (pravrajyā) is not a simple ideal but a demanding path, especially for one unaccustomed to hardship.
Bhīṣma is advising a young woman contemplating or facing the prospect of leaving household life; he argues from practical dharma—social supports and duties—urging her to recognize where protection lies in normal times versus crisis, and to understand the severe difficulty of a life of renunciation.