Shloka 12
Amba approaches the Paraśurāma context; Hotravāhana’s counsel and Akṛtavraṇa’s report (अम्बोपाख्यानम्—रामदर्शनप्रसङ्गः)
अस्बोवाच न शक्यं काशिनगरं पुनर्गन्तुं पितुर्गहान् । अवज्ञाता भविष्यामि बान्धवानां न संशय:,अम्बा बोली--तापसो! अब मेरे लिये पुनः काशिनगरमें पिताके घर लौट जाना असम्भव है; क्योंकि वहाँ मुझे बन्धु-बान्धवोंमें अपमानित होकर रहना पड़ेगा
ambovāca na śakyaṃ kāśīnagaraṃ punargantuṃ pitur gṛhān | avajñātā bhaviṣyāmi bāndhavānāṃ na saṃśayaḥ ||
อัมพากล่าวว่า “โอ้ดาบส การกลับไปยังเมืองกาศีสู่เรือนบิดาของข้านั้นเป็นไปไม่ได้เลย ไม่ต้องสงสัยว่าในหมู่ญาติของตนเอง ข้าจักต้องอยู่ด้วยความอัปยศ ถูกดูหมิ่นเหยียดหยาม”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how social notions of honor and reputation can constrain personal choices: Amba foresees that returning to her paternal home would subject her to lasting contempt among her own kin, showing the ethical weight (and burden) of public perception in dharma-based society.
Amba addresses an ascetic and explains that she cannot go back to Kāśī and her father’s household, because her relatives would dishonor her; this statement frames her predicament and motivates her continued search for a resolution to the wrong she believes has been done to her.