Shloka 12

अम्बोपाख्याने तापसानां विचारः तथा होत्रवाहनस्य उपदेशः

Ambā among ascetics; Hotravāhana directs her to Paraśurāma

Devanagari script

भजस्व मां शाल्वपते भक्तां बालामनागसम्‌ | भक्तानां हि परित्यागो न धर्मेषु प्रशस्यते

Transliteration

bhajasva māṃ śālvapate bhaktāṃ bālāṃ anāgasam | bhaktānāṃ hi parityāgo na dharmeṣu praśasyate ||

Translation

“శాల్వపతీ, నన్ను స్వీకరించు. నేను నిరపరాధిని, అశక్తురాలిని, నీకు భక్తురాలిని; భక్తుడిగా శరణు వచ్చినవారిని విడిచిపెట్టడం ఏ ధర్మంలోనూ ప్రశంసనీయం కాదు.”

Word by Word

• भजस्व: accept (me), take refuge in/turn to
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज्
• Form: लोट् (imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यम, एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शाल्वपते: O lord of the Śālvas
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्वपति
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• भक्ताम्: devoted (female devotee)
• भक्ताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बालाम्: a young/helpless woman
• बालाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाला
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनागसम्: blameless, innocent
• अनागसम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनागस्
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• परित्यागः: abandonment, forsaking
• परित्यागः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परित्याग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• धर्मेषु: in (matters of) dharma / among duties
• धर्मेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• प्रशस्यते: is praised/commended
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-शंस्
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम, एकवचन, कर्मणि (passive)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śālva (king/lord of Śālva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse asserts an ethical norm within dharma: rejecting or abandoning a devoted person—especially one who is blameless and vulnerable—is not considered praiseworthy. It frames protection and acceptance of the faithful as a duty aligned with righteous conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

A speaker appeals to the king of Śālva, presenting herself as innocent and helpless yet devoted, and urges him to accept her. The appeal is strengthened by invoking dharma: that turning away a devoted dependent is morally censured.