Shloka 14
अम्बा-शाल्वसंवादः | Amba’s Appeal to Śālva and His Refusal
वीर्यशुल्काश्न ता ज्ञात्वा समारोप्य रथं तदा | अवोचं पार्थिवान् सर्वानहं तत्र समागतान् | भीष्म: शान्तनव: कन्या हरतीति पुन: पुन:,पराक्रम ही इन कन्याओंका शुल्क है, यह जानकर उन्हें रथपर चढ़ा लेनेके पश्चात् मैंने वहाँ आये हुए समस्त भूपालोंसे कहा--“नरश्रेष्ठ राजाओ! शान्तनुपुत्र भीष्म इन राजकन्याओंका अपहरण कर रहा है, तुम सब लोग पूरी शक्ति लगाकर इन्हें छुड़ानेका प्रयत्न करो; क्योंकि मैं तुम्हारे देखते-देखते बलपूर्वक इन्हें लिये जाता हूँ"; इस बातको मैंने बारंबार दुहराया
vīryaśulkāś ca tā jñātvā samāropya rathaṃ tadā | avocaṃ pārthivān sarvān ahaṃ tatra samāgatān || bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavaḥ kanyā haratīti punaḥ punaḥ ||
Sabendo que o preço nupcial delas era o valor, e depois de colocar aquelas donzelas no meu carro, dirigi-me a todos os reis ali reunidos: “Bhishma, filho de Shantanu, está levando estas princesas!” Repeti-o vezes sem conta — para que, como kṣatriyas, empregassem toda a sua força para resgatá-las, pois eu as levava à força diante dos seus próprios olhos.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kshatriya ethical frame in which force is not concealed but openly declared and subjected to contest. By repeatedly announcing the abduction to the assembled kings, Bhishma invites rightful resistance, turning the act into a public trial of valor—‘valor as the bride-price’—and emphasizing honor, accountability, and the warrior code’s demand for open challenge.
Bhishma has placed the princesses on his chariot and, before departing, addresses all the gathered kings. He repeatedly proclaims that he—Bhishma, son of Shantanu—is carrying the maidens off, effectively daring the kings to try to stop him and rescue them, since he is taking them away by force in their presence.