Shloka 34
Droṇa–Vidura–Gāndhārī Counsel in the Royal Assembly (धर्मार्थयुक्ता सभा-उपदेश-प्रकरणम्)
ततोऊहं प्राञ्जलि भूत्वा मातरं सम्प्रसादयम् । नाम्ब शान्तनुना जात: कौरवं वंशमुद्रहन्,अहं प्रेष्पश्न॒ दासश्न॒ तवाद्य सुतवत्सले । राजन! तत्पश्चात् पुन: हाथ जोड़कर माताको प्रसन्न करनेके लिये मैंने विनयपूर्वक कहा --“अम्ब! मैं राजा शान्तनुसे उत्पन्न होकर कौरववंशकी मर्यादाका वहन करता हूँ। अतः अपनी की हुई प्रतिज्ञाको झूठी नहीं कर सकता।” यह बात मैंने बार-बार दुहरायी। इसके बाद फिर कहा--'पुत्रवत्सले! विशेषतः तुम्हारे ही लिये मैंने यह प्रतिज्ञा की थी। मैं तुम्हारा सेवक और दास हूँ (मुझसे वह प्रतिज्ञा तोड़नेके लिये न कहो)”
tato ’haṃ prāñjali bhūtvā mātaraṃ samprasādayam | nāmba śāntanunā jātaḥ kauravaṃ vaṃśam udvahan, ahaṃ preṣyaś ca dāsaś ca tavādya sutavatsale | rājan! tatpaścāt punaḥ hātha joṛkar mātāko prasanna karaneke liye maine vinayapūrvak kahā—“amba! maiṃ rājā śāntanuse utpanna hokar kauravavaṃśakī maryādākā vahan kartā hūṃ. ataḥ apanī kī huī pratijñāko jhūṭhī nahīṃ kar saktā.” yah bāt maine bār-bār duharāyī. iske bād phir kahā—“putravatsale! viśeṣataḥ tumhāre hī liye maine yah pratijñā kī thī. maiṃ tumhārā sevak aur dās hūṃ (mujhse vah pratijñā toṛneke liye na kaho)”
Pagkaraan, na magkayakap ang mga palad, sinikap kong payapain ang aking ina at mapagpakumbabang nagsabi: “Inang Amba, ako’y isinilang kay Haring Shantanu at pasan ko ang dangal at pananagutan ng angkang Kaurava; kaya hindi ko maaaring gawing kasinungalingan ang panatang aking tinanggap.” Paulit-ulit ko itong sinabi. At idinagdag ko: “O inang mapagmahal, lalo’t higit para sa iyo ko ginawa ang panatang ito. Hanggang ngayon, ako’y iyong tagapaglingkod at alipin—huwag mo akong hilinging suwayin ito.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes dharma as fidelity to one’s solemn vow and responsibility to lineage and public honor. Bhīṣma frames vow-keeping not as personal stubbornness but as an ethical obligation tied to the Kaurava dynasty’s integrity, even when emotional appeals are strong.
Bhīṣma, speaking to the king, recounts how he respectfully tried to pacify Amba (addressed as ‘mother’) with folded hands. He repeatedly explains that, as Śāntanu’s son and bearer of the Kaurava line, he cannot violate his vow; he adds that the vow was made especially for her sake and asks her not to urge him to break it.