Shloka 40
अम्बोपाख्याने तापसानां विचारः तथा होत्रवाहनस्य उपदेशः
Ambā among ascetics; Hotravāhana directs her to Paraśurāma
एवं गते तु कि भद्रे शक््यं कर्तु तपस्विभि: । आश्रमस्थैर्महा भागे तपोयुक्तैर्महात्मभि:,'भद्रे! महाभागे! ऐसी दशामें इस आश्रममें निवास करनेवाले तप:परायण तपोधन महात्मा तुम्हारा क्या सहयोग कर सकते हैं?”
evaṁ gate tu kiṁ bhadre śakyaṁ kartuṁ tapasvibhiḥ | āśramasthair mahābhāge tapoyuktair mahātmabhiḥ ||
भद्रे, महाभागे! गोष्ट अशी येथे येऊन ठेपली असता, या आश्रमात राहणारे तपोयुक्त महात्मे तपस्वी तुझ्यासाठी काय करू शकतील?
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights the limits of ascetic intervention in worldly crises: hermitage-dwelling sages possess spiritual discipline and moral counsel, but may not be able to alter events through direct worldly action. The verse underscores discernment about what kind of help is realistically possible in a given situation.
Bhīṣma addresses a noble woman and, seeing that circumstances have deteriorated, asks rhetorically what assistance the ascetics living in the āśrama—though great-souled and devoted to tapas—can provide. The tone suggests a grave situation where spiritual support may be available, but practical remedies are constrained.