Shloka 13

अम्बा-शाल्वसंवादः | Amba’s Appeal to Śālva and His Refusal

Devanagari script

ततोऊहं तान्‌ नृपान्‌ सर्वानाहूय समरे स्थितान्‌ । रथमारोपयांचक्रे कन्यास्ता भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ! तदनन्तर मैंने युद्धके लिये खड़े हुए उन समस्त राजाओंको ललकारकर उन तीनों कन्‍्याओंको अपने रथपर बैठा लिया

Transliteration

tato 'haṃ tān nṛpān sarvān āhūya samare sthitān | ratham āropayāṃ cakre kanyās tā bharatarṣabha ||

Translation

于是，噢，婆罗多族中的雄牛啊！我向所有列阵待战的诸王发出挑战，并将那三位少女扶上我的战车。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• ऊहं: I called/challenged (aloud)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ऊह्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 1, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नृपान्: kings
• नृपान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• आहूय: having called/summoned
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ह्वा
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• स्थितान्: standing, stationed
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Past Passive Participle (kta), Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आरोपयाम्: having seated/placed (on)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह्/आ-रोपय्
• Form: Causative absolutive (gerund) in -ya (intended: आरोप्य/आरोपयित्वा), as transmitted 'आरोपयां' appears non-standard; sense is 'having made (them) mount/placed (them)'.

• चक्रे: I did/made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Lit), 1, Singular, Atmanepada

• कन्याः: maidens, daughters
• कन्याः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• ताः: those
• ताः: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• भरतर्षभ: O bull among the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत-ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भरतश्रेष्ठ: O best of the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत-श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• kings (nṛpāḥ)
• three maidens (kanyāḥ)
• chariot (ratha)
• battle/war (samara)
• Bharata lineage (address: bharatarṣabha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of decisive action and fearlessness in upholding perceived dynastic duty, while also exposing an ethical tension: securing a marital alliance through force can be framed as valor yet risks violating consent and provoking wider conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma recounts that he openly challenged the assembled kings who were prepared to fight and then placed the (three) maidens onto his chariot, indicating a forceful taking amid a battlefield confrontation.