Udyoga Parva · Adhyaya 174

Amba Asks Leave to Go to Shalva

Bhishma brings the three princesses of Kashi to Satyavati, who rejoices at his victory. As the wedding to Vichitravirya draws near, Amba, the eldest, tells Bhishma that she had already chosen the king of the Shalvas as her husband, and he her, in secret from her father. She asks how he, knowing dharma, could keep in his house a woman who loves another, and begs him to let her go to Shalva, who is waiting for her.

Adhyaya 173 All adhyayas Adhyaya 175

भीष्म उवाच · Bhishma said

Verse 1 (5.174.1)

ततोऽहं भरतश्रेष्ठ मातरं वीरमातरम् । अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य दाशेयीमिदमब्रुवम् ॥

tato'haṃ bharataśreṣṭha mātaraṃ vīramātaram | abhigamyopasaṃgṛhya dāśeyīmidamabruvam

Then, best of the Bharatas, I went to my mother, the mother of heroes, the daughter of the fisherman, and clasping her feet I said this:

Verse 2 (5.174.2)

इमाः काशिपतेः कन्या मया निर्जित्य पार्थिवान् । विचित्रवीर्यस्य कृते वीर्यशुल्का हृता इति ॥

imāḥ kāśipateḥ kanyā mayā nirjitya pārthivān | vicitravīryasya kṛte vīryaśulkā hṛtā iti

"These daughters of the lord of Kashi I have carried off for Vichitravirya's sake, after defeating the kings; valour was their bride-price."

Verse 3 (5.174.3)

ततो मूर्धन्युपाघ्राय पर्यश्रुनयना नृप । आह सत्यवती हृष्टा दिष्ट्या पुत्र जितं त्वया ॥

tato mūrdhanyupāghrāya paryaśrunayanā nṛpa | āha satyavatī hṛṣṭā diṣṭyā putra jitaṃ tvayā

Then, O king, smelling my head, her eyes brimming with tears, Satyavati said joyfully, "Thank heaven, my son, you have won!"

Verse 4 (5.174.4)

सत्यवत्यास्त्वनुमते विवाहे समुपस्थिते । उवाच वाक्यं सव्रीडा ज्येष्ठा काशिपतेः सुता ॥

satyavatyāstvanumate vivāhe samupasthite | uvāca vākyaṃ savrīḍā jyeṣṭhā kāśipateḥ sutā

With Satyavati's consent the wedding was at hand, when the eldest daughter of the lord of Kashi spoke these words, abashed:

अम्बोवाच · Amba said

Verse 5 (5.174.5)

भीष्म त्वमसि धर्मज्ञः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः । श्रुत्वा च वचनं धर्म्यं मह्यं कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥

bhīṣma tvamasi dharmajñaḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradaḥ | śrutvā ca vacanaṃ dharmyaṃ mahyaṃ kartumihārhasi

Bhishma, you know dharma and are learned in all the scriptures. Hear my words, which accord with dharma, and then you should act on them for me.

Verse 6 (5.174.6)

मया साल्वपतिः पूर्वं मनसाऽभिवृतो वरः । तेन चास्मि वृता पूर्वं रहस्यविदिते पितुः ॥

mayā sālvapatiḥ pūrvaṃ manasā'bhivṛto varaḥ | tena cāsmi vṛtā pūrvaṃ rahasyavidite pituḥ

Long before this I chose the lord of the Shalvas in my heart as my husband, and he too had chosen me before, in secret, without my father's knowledge.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Amba: her words to Bhishma (introduced by verse 4) fill the whole verse; Wikisource prints no heading, and the page's भीष्म उवाच heading covers the whole adhyaya. Corrected साल्वपत्तिः → साल्वपतिः (misprint in Wikisource; doubled त, critical edition śālvapatiḥ).

Verse 7 (5.174.7)

कथं मामन्यकामां त्वं राजधर्ममतीत्य वै । वासयेथा गृहे भीष्म कौरवः सन्विशेषतः ॥

kathaṃ māmanyakāmāṃ tvaṃ rājadharmamatītya vai | vāsayethā gṛhe bhīṣma kauravaḥ sanviśeṣataḥ

How could you, transgressing the law of kings, keep in your house a woman who loves another, Bhishma — you, a Kaurava above all?

Verse 8 (5.174.8)

एतद्बुद्ध्या विनिश्चित्य मनसा भरतर्षभ । यत्क्षमं ते महाबाहो तदिहारब्धुमर्हसि ॥

etadbuddhyā viniścitya manasā bharatarṣabha | yatkṣamaṃ te mahābāho tadihārabdhumarhasi

Weigh this with your understanding and settle it in your mind, O bull of the Bharatas, and then undertake here whatever is fitting for you, mighty-armed one.

Verse 9 (5.174.9)

स मां प्रतीक्षते व्यक्तं साल्वराजो विशांपते । तस्मान्मां त्वं कुरुश्रेष्ठ समनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ॥

sa māṃ pratīkṣate vyaktaṃ sālvarājo viśāṃpate | tasmānmāṃ tvaṃ kuruśreṣṭha samanujñātumarhasi

The king of the Shalvas is surely waiting for me, O lord of the people. Therefore, best of the Kurus, you should give me leave to go.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Amba: her words to Bhishma (introduced by verse 4) fill the whole verse; Wikisource prints no heading, and the page's भीष्म उवाच heading covers the whole adhyaya. Line 1 is the critical edition's 5.171.9ab; line 2 is its star passage 5.171.9b*0571 (not in the constituted text; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 10 (5.174.10)

कृपां कुरु महाबाहो मयि धर्मभृतां वर । त्वं हि सत्यव्रतो वीर पृथिव्यामिति नः श्रुतम् ॥

kṛpāṃ kuru mahābāho mayi dharmabhṛtāṃ vara | tvaṃ hi satyavrato vīra pṛthivyāmiti naḥ śrutam

Have pity on me, mighty-armed one, best of those who uphold dharma; for we have heard, O hero, that on this earth you are true to your vows.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Amba: her words to Bhishma (introduced by verse 4) fill the whole verse; Wikisource prints no heading, and the page's भीष्म उवाच heading covers the whole adhyaya. The critical edition's 5.171.9cd–ef; the alignment found no match because the verse division differs.

Adhyaya 173 All adhyayas Adhyaya 175