Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

इयमम्बेति विख्याता ज्येष्ठा काशिपते: सुता । अम्बिकाम्बालिके कन्ये कनीयस्यौ तपोधन,होत्रवाहन बोले--प्रभो! यह मेरी दौहित्री (पुत्रीकी पुत्री) है। अनघ! काशिराजकी परमप्रिय ज्येष्ठ पुत्री अपनी दो छोटी बहिनोंके साथ स्वयंवरमें उपस्थित हुई थी। उनमेंसे यही अम्बा नामसे विख्यात काशिराजकी ज्येष्ठ पुत्री है। तपोधन! इसकी दोनों छोटी बहिनें अम्बिका और अम्बालिका कहलाती हैं

Transliteration

hotravāhana uvāca | iyam ambeti vikhyātā jyeṣṭhā kāśipateḥ sutā | ambikāmbālike kanye kanīyasyau tapodhana ||

Translation

霍特拉瓦哈那说道：“此女以‘安芭’著称——乃迦尸之主的长女。噢苦行深厚者，她的两位幼妹是少女‘安毗迦’与‘安芭利迦’。”

Word by Word

इयम्this (woman)

अम्बाAmba (name)

इतिthus (quotative)

विख्याताwell-known, famed

ज्येष्ठाeldest

काशिपतेःof the lord of Kāśi (king of Kāśi)

सुताdaughter

अम्बिकाAmbikā (name)

अम्बालिकेAmbālikā (name)

कन्येtwo maidens/daughters

कनीयस्यौthe two younger (ones)

तपोधनO ascetic rich in austerity

Speaker

होत्रवाहन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Hotravāhana

Ambā

Ambikā

Ambālikā

Kāśipati (King of Kāśī)

Kāśī

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds dharma through clear identification of persons and relationships: social and ethical duties in royal marriage contexts depend on accurate lineage and status, so naming and kinship are stated explicitly before consequential actions unfold.

What is happening in the narrative?

Hotravāhana introduces the three princesses of Kāśī, identifying the eldest as Ambā and naming her two younger sisters as Ambikā and Ambālikā—setting the stage for the ensuing events connected with their marriage arrangements.