Shloka 4
अम्बा-शाल्वसंवादः | Amba’s Appeal to Śālva and His Refusal
महाराजो मम पिता शान्तनुर्लोकविश्रुत: । दिष्टान्तमाप धर्मात्मा समये भरतर्षभ
mahārājo mama pitā śāntanur lokaviśrutaḥ | diṣṭāntam āpa dharmātmā samaye bharatarṣabha ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Ayahandaku, Raja agung Śāntanu—terkenal di seluruh dunia—telah sampai ke penghujung takdirnya. Pada waktu itu, wahai banteng di antara keturunan Bharata, demi menunaikan sumpahku dengan setia, aku menabalkan adikku Citrāṅgada ke atas kerajaan besar ini.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as fidelity to one’s solemn vow: Bhīṣma frames righteous conduct as steadfastly upholding a promise even at critical political moments like royal succession.
Bhīṣma recounts that after King Śāntanu’s death, he honored his own pledge and ensured orderly succession by installing his brother Citrāṅgada as king of the realm.