Shloka 36

अम्बोपाख्याने तापसानां विचारः तथा होत्रवाहनस्य उपदेशः

Ambā among ascetics; Hotravāhana directs her to Paraśurāma

Devanagari script

आश्रमं पुण्यशीलानां तापसानां महात्मनाम्‌ | ततस्तामवसद्‌ रात्रिं तापसै: परिवारिता,उसने पुण्यशील तपस्वी महात्माओंके आश्रमपर जाकर वहीं वह रात बितायी। उस आश्रममें तपस्वी-लोगोंने सब ओरसे घेरकर उसकी रक्षा की थी

Transliteration

āśramaṃ puṇyaśīlānāṃ tāpasānāṃ mahātmanām | tatas tām avasad rātriṃ tāpasaiḥ parivāritā ||

Translation

Kemudian dia sampai ke pertapaan para resi bertapa yang berhati suci dan berjiwa agung. Di sana dia bermalam, dikelilingi para tapasvin yang melindunginya dari segala arah.

Word by Word

आश्रमम्hermitage

पुण्यशीलानाम्of virtuous-natured (pious) ones

तापसानाम्of ascetics

महात्मनाम्of great-souled ones

ततःthen; thereafter

ताम्that (night) / her (contextual)

अवसत्stayed; dwelt

रात्रिम्night

तापसैःby/with ascetics

परिवारिताsurrounded; attended

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

hermitage (āśrama)

ascetics/sages (tāpasas, mahātmans)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the āśrama as a dharmic refuge: those established in puṇya-śīla (holy conduct) and tapas provide protection and safety, showing that moral authority and disciplined life can create sanctuary even amid social or political turmoil.

What is happening in the narrative?

A woman (referred to simply as 'tām', 'she') arrives at the hermitage of great ascetics and spends the night there. The sages surround her, implying active guardianship and ensuring her security within the sacred space of the āśrama.