Shloka 22
अम्बा-शाल्वसंवादः | Amba’s Appeal to Śālva and His Refusal
ते निवृत्ताश्न भग्नाश्न दृष्टवा तल्लाघवं मम । (प्रणिपेतुश्न सर्वे वै प्रशशंसुश्न पार्थिवा: । तत आदाय ता: कन्या नृपतींश्व विसृज्य तान् ॥। ) अथाहं हास्तिनपुरमायां जित्वा महीक्षित:
te nivṛttāś ca bhagnāś ca dṛṣṭvā tal-lāghavaṁ mama | praṇipetuś ca sarve vai praśaśaṁsuś ca pārthivāḥ || tata ādāya tāḥ kanyā nṛpatīṁś ca visṛjya tān | athāhaṁ hāstinapuraṁ āyāṁ jitvā mahīkṣitaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“见我身手迅疾、武威难当，他们便退却溃散而逃。那些国王都在我面前俯首称臣，赞叹不已。其后我降服诸王，将他们留在原地，携三位少女归返象城（Hastināpura），以胜者之姿而回。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sheer martial prowess can compel submission, yet it also invites ethical reflection: actions performed under the banner of dynastic or kṣatriya duty can carry moral consequences, especially when power is exercised over others’ autonomy.
Bhishma describes routing the assembled kings, who then bow and praise him. After defeating them, he takes the princesses and returns to Hastinapura, presenting the outcome as a victorious completion of his mission.