Shloka 39

Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

ततः कथान्ते राजर्षिमिहात्मा होत्रवाहन: । राम॑ श्रेष्ठ महर्षीणामपृच्छदकृतव्रणम्‌,बातचीत समाप्त होनेपर राजर्षि महात्मा होत्रवाहन-ने महर्षियोंमें श्रेष्ठ परशुरामजीके विषयमें अकृतव्रणसे पूछा--

Transliteration

tataḥ kathānte rājarṣir ihātmā hotravāhanaḥ | rāmaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ maharṣīṇām apṛcchad akṛtavraṇam ||

Translation

సంభాషణ ముగిసిన తరువాత, ఇక్కడ రాజర్షి మహాత్మ హోత్రవాహనుడు మహర్షులలో శ్రేష్ఠుడైన రాముడు (పరశురాముడు) గురించి అకృతవ్రణుణ్ణి ప్రశ్నించాడు।

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

कथान्तेat the end of the conversation/story

राजर्षिःthe royal sage

इहhere

आत्माthe noble one / the great-souled (person)

होत्रवाहनःHotravāhana (proper name)

रामम्Rāma (Paraśurāma)

श्रेष्ठम्the best, foremost

महर्षीणाम्of the great sages

अपृच्छत्asked

अकृतव्रणम्Akṛtavraṇa (proper name; lit. 'one whose wound is not made')

Speaker

होत्रवाहन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Hotravāhana

Akṛtavraṇa

Rāma (Paraśurāma)

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 a dharmic method of learning: after a discussion concludes, a wise ruler seeks further clarity by respectfully questioning a qualified knower about an exemplary figure (Paraśurāma), implying that ethical understanding grows through disciplined inquiry and attention to models of conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

A prior conversation ends, and Hotravāhana transitions the dialogue by asking Akṛtavraṇa about Rāma/Paraśurāma, setting up the next portion of the account focused on Paraśurāma’s stature and deeds.