Mahabharata — Udyoga Parva, Shloka 15
अम्बोपाख्याने तापसानां विचारः तथा होत्रवाहनस्य उपदेशः
Ambā among ascetics; Hotravāhana directs her to Paraśurāma
भगिन्यौ मम ये नीते अम्बिकाम्बालिके नृप । प्रादाद् विचित्रवीर्याय गाड़ेयो हि यवीयसे
bhaginyau mama ye nīte ambikāmbālike nṛpa | prādād vicitravīryāya gāḍeyo hi yavīyase ||
ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— “ਹੇ ਨ੍ਰਿਪ! ਮੇਰੀਆਂ ਦੋ ਭੈਣਾਂ—ਅੰਬਿਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਅੰਬਾਲਿਕਾ—ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੈਂ ਲੈ ਆਇਆ ਸੀ, ਗਾਂਗੇਯ ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਛੋਟੇ ਭਰਾ ਵਿਚਿਤ੍ਰਵੀਰਯ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਆਹ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤਾ।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dynastic responsibility and the ethical tension between political necessity and personal agency: marriages are arranged to secure succession and stability, framed as a kṣatriya’s duty, even when the means (bringing the brides) can raise moral questions.
Bhishma recounts a past event: after bringing Ambikā and Ambālikā, they were married to his younger brother Vicitravīrya, establishing the marital link central to the Kuru lineage and later succession issues.