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Shloka 2

अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः

Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge

काश्ये न काम गृह्नामि शस्त्र वै वरवर्णिनि । ऋते ब्रह्मविदां हेतो: किमनयत्‌ करवाणि ते,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्‌! अम्बाके ऐसा कहनेपर कि प्रभो! भीष्मको मार डालिये। परशुरामजीने रो-रोकर बार-बार प्रेरणा देनेवाली उस कन्यासे इस प्रकार कहा--'सुन्दरी! काशिराजकुमारी! मैं अपनी प्रतिज्ञाके अनुसार किसी वेदवेत्ता ब्राह्मणको आवश्यकता हो तो उसीके लिये शस्त्र उठाता हूँ। वैसा कारण हुए बिना इच्छानुसार हथियार नहीं उठाता। अतः इस प्रतिज्ञाकी रक्षा करते हुए मैं तेरा दूसरा कौन-सा कार्य करूँ

kāśye na kāma gṛhṇāmi śastraṃ vai varavarṇini | ṛte brahmavidāṃ hetoḥ kim anyat karavāṇi te ||

“肤色高贵的佳人、迦尸国的公主啊,我并非因一己之欲而执起兵刃。除非事关护持或成就通晓梵(Brahman)之智者——精通吠陀的圣贤——的缘由,我绝不挥动武器。因此,在守护我所立誓愿之时,我还能为你做何等别的事奉?”

काश्येin/for (the matter of) Kāśī
काश्ये:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकाशी
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
कामat will; desire (as object: 'as I wish')
काम:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकाम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
गृह्णामिI take; I seize
गृह्णामि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootग्रह्
FormPresent, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada
शस्त्रweapon
शस्त्र:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशस्त्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
वैindeed; surely
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
वरवर्णिनिO fair-complexioned (lady)
वरवर्णिनि:
TypeNoun
Rootवरवर्णिनी
FormFeminine, Vocative, Singular
ऋतेexcept; without
ऋते:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootऋते
ब्रह्मविदाम्of the knowers of the Veda/Brahman
ब्रह्मविदाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मविद्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
हेतोःfor the sake of; because of (a reason)
हेतोः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootहेतु
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
किम्what?
किम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अन्यत्other; else
अन्यत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
करवाणिshould I do?
करवाणि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada
तेfor you; to you
ते:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormDative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
P
Paraśurāma
A
Ambā
K
Kāśī (Kāśirājā’s princess)
Ś
śastra (weapons)

Educational Q&A

The verse emphasizes ethical restraint: weapons should not be taken up from personal desire or impulse. One must act within the bounds of one’s vow and dharma, using force only for a legitimate, principled cause.

In the Ambā–Bhīṣma–Paraśurāma episode, Ambā urges Paraśurāma to kill Bhīṣma. Paraśurāma replies that he cannot take up arms merely at will; he is bound by his vow and will fight only when a proper cause—especially connected with the duty toward learned Brahmins—arises, and he asks what else he can do for her while keeping his pledge.