Shloka 23
Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
अब्रवीद् वेपमानश्न कन्यामार्ता सुदु:खित: । मा गा: पितुर्गहं भद्रे मातुस्ते जनको हाहम्,और अत्यन्त दुःखी हो काँपते हुए ही उन्होंने उस दु:खिनी कन्यासे इस प्रकार कहा --'भद्रे! (यदि) तू पिताके घर (नहीं जाना चाहती हो तो) न जा। मैं तेरी माँका पिता हूँ
abravīd vepamānaś ca kanyām ārtāṃ suduḥkhitaḥ | mā gāḥ pitur gṛhaṃ bhadre mātus te janako hy aham ||
అతిదుఃఖంతో వణుకుతూ ఆయన ఆ దుఃఖిత కన్యతో ఇలా అన్నాడు— “భద్రే! నీవు తండ్రి ఇంటికి వెళ్లదలచుకోకపోతే వెళ్లవద్దు. నేను నీ తల్లికి తండ్రిని.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma as compassionate guardianship: when a vulnerable person is distressed, an elder who stands in a rightful kinship role should offer protection and a safe alternative, rather than forcing a socially expected course of action.
A grief-stricken elder addresses a suffering maiden, reassuring her that she need not return to her father’s house if she does not wish to, and he legitimizes his protective authority by stating that he is her mother’s father (her maternal grandfather).