Amba Meets Her Grandfather Hotravahana

Verse 1 (5.176.1)

ततस्ते तापसाः सर्वे कार्यवन्तोऽभवंस्तदा । तां कन्यां चिन्तयन्तस्ते किंकार्यमिति धर्मिणः ॥

tataste tāpasāḥ sarve kāryavanto'bhavaṃstadā | tāṃ kanyāṃ cintayantaste kiṃkāryamiti dharmiṇaḥ

Then all those ascetics felt that something had to be done. Thinking about the maiden, those righteous men asked themselves, "What should be done?"

Verse 2 (5.176.2)

केचिदाहुः पितुर्वेश्म नीयतामिति तापसाः । केचिदस्मदुपालम्भे मतिं चक्रुर्हि तापसाः ॥

kecidāhuḥ piturveśma nīyatāmiti tāpasāḥ | kecidasmadupālambhe matiṃ cakrurhi tāpasāḥ

Some of the ascetics said that she should be taken to her father's house; some set their minds on reproaching me.

Note on the text: Corrected केचिदस्यदुमालम्भे → केचिदस्मदुपालम्भे (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads ke cid asmadupālambhe). हि तापसाः (CE dvijottamāḥ) kept as a variant.

Verse 3 (5.176.3)

केचित्साल्वपतिं गत्वा नियोज्यमिति मेनिरे । नेति केचिद्व्यवस्यन्ति प्रत्याख्याता हि तेन सा ॥

kecitsālvapatiṃ gatvā niyojyamiti menire | neti kecidvyavasyanti pratyākhyātā hi tena sā

Some thought they should go to the lord of the Salvas and press him to take her; others decided against it, since he had already rejected her.

Verse 4 (5.176.4)

एवं गते तु किं शक्यं भद्रे कर्तुं मनीषिभिः । पुनरूचुश्च तां सर्वे तापसाः संशितव्रताः ॥

evaṃ gate tu kiṃ śakyaṃ bhadre kartuṃ manīṣibhiḥ | punarūcuśca tāṃ sarve tāpasāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ

"Things having come to this, good lady, what can wise men do?" Then all the ascetics of strict vows spoke to her again.

Verse 5 (5.176.5)

अलं प्रव्रजितेनेह भद्रे शृणु हितं वचः । इतो गच्छस्व भद्रं ते पितुरेव निवेशनम् ॥

alaṃ pravrajiteneha bhadre śṛṇu hitaṃ vacaḥ | ito gacchasva bhadraṃ te pitureva niveśanam

"Enough of renouncing the world here, good lady; listen to words meant for your good. Go from here to your father's own house, and may all be well with you.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रृणु → शृणु (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads śṛṇu). Speaker set to the ascetics: the verse is wholly their speech to Amba (Wikisource prints no heading; the input carried भीष्म).

Verse 6 (5.176.6)

प्रतिपत्स्यति राजा स पिता ते यदनन्तरम् । तत्र वत्स्यसि कल्याणि सुखं सर्वगुणान्विता ॥

pratipatsyati rājā sa pitā te yadanantaram | tatra vatsyasi kalyāṇi sukhaṃ sarvaguṇānvitā

Your father the king will see to whatever must be done next. There you will live happily, auspicious one, endowed with every virtue.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रतिपस्त्यति → प्रतिपत्स्यति (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads pratipatsyati). This verse is CE 5.174.6ab; the critical edition divides verses 6–7 differently (its 6ef is the first line of verse 7 here). Speaker set to the ascetics: the verse is wholly their speech to Amba (Wikisource prints no heading; the input carried भीष्म).

Verse 7 (5.176.7)

न च तेऽन्या गतिर्न्याय्या भवेद्भद्रे यथा पिता । पतिर्वापि गतिर्नार्याः पिता वा वरवर्णिनि । गतिः पतिः समस्थाया विषमे च पिता गतिः ॥

na ca te'nyā gatirnyāyyā bhavedbhadre yathā pitā | patirvāpi gatirnāryāḥ pitā vā varavarṇini | gatiḥ patiḥ samasthāyā viṣame ca pitā gatiḥ

No other refuge would be as fitting for you, good lady, as your father. For a woman the refuge is either her husband or her father, fair one: her husband when all is well, and her father in adversity.

Note on the text: The first line is CE 5.174.6ef; the other two are CE 5.174.7 (विषमे च for viṣame tu kept as a variant). Speaker set to the ascetics: the verse is wholly their speech to Amba (Wikisource prints no heading; the input carried भीष्म).

Verse 8 (5.176.8)

प्रव्रज्या हि सुदुःखेयं सुकुमार्या विशेषतः । राजपुत्र्याः प्रकृत्या च कुमार्यास्तव भामिनि ॥

pravrajyā hi suduḥkheyaṃ sukumāryā viśeṣataḥ | rājaputryāḥ prakṛtyā ca kumāryāstava bhāmini

For this life of renunciation is very hard, above all for one so delicate, and for a king's daughter born to comfort, a maiden such as you, lovely one.

Note on the text: Corrected चक → च (misprint in Wikisource; a stray akshara; the critical edition reads prakṛtyā ca kumāryās). Speaker set to the ascetics: the verse is wholly their speech to Amba (Wikisource prints no heading; the input carried भीष्म).

Verse 9 (5.176.9)

भद्रे दोषा हि विद्यन्ते बहवो वरवर्णिनि । आश्रमे वै वसन्त्यास्ते न भवेयुः पितुर्गृहे ॥

bhadre doṣā hi vidyante bahavo varavarṇini | āśrame vai vasantyāste na bhaveyuḥ piturgṛhe

Many troubles, good lady, would beset you while you lived in a hermitage, fair one, that would not touch you in your father's house."

Note on the text: Speaker set to the ascetics: the verse is wholly their speech to Amba (Wikisource prints no heading; the input carried भीष्म).

Verse 10 (5.176.10)

ततस्त्वन्येऽब्रुवन्वाक्यं तापसास्तां तपस्विनीम् ॥

tatastvanye'bruvanvākyaṃ tāpasāstāṃ tapasvinīm

Then other ascetics spoke these words to that woman ascetic:

Note on the text: A single line, as Wikisource prints it (5-176-10a, closed with its own verse mark): it is the first line of CE 5.174.10, whose other two lines are verse 11 here. Nothing is lost. तापसास् (CE brāhmaṇās) kept as a variant.

Verse 11 (5.176.11)

त्वामिहैकाकिनीं दृष्ट्वा निर्जने गहने वने । प्रार्थयिष्यन्ति राजानस्तस्मान्मैवं मनः कृथाः ॥

tvāmihaikākinīṃ dṛṣṭvā nirjane gahane vane | prārthayiṣyanti rājānastasmānmaivaṃ manaḥ kṛthāḥ

"Seeing you here alone in this lonely, dense forest, kings will seek you out; so do not set your mind on this."

Note on the text: Lines c–e of CE 5.174.10 (see verse 10). Inserted the missing word break in प्रार्थयिष्यन्ति राजानस् (run together in Wikisource). Speaker set to the ascetics: the verse is wholly their speech to Amba (Wikisource prints no heading; the input carried भीष्म).

Verse 12 (5.176.12)

न शक्यं काशिनगरं पुनर्गन्तुं पितुर्गृहान् । अवज्ञाता भविष्यामि बान्धवानां न संशयः ॥

na śakyaṃ kāśinagaraṃ punargantuṃ piturgṛhān | avajñātā bhaviṣyāmi bāndhavānāṃ na saṃśayaḥ

I cannot go back to the city of Kashi, to my father's house. I would be despised by my kinsmen, there is no doubt.

Verse 13 (5.176.13)

उषितास्मि तथा बाल्ये पितुर्वेश्मनि तापसाः । नाहं गमिष्ये भद्रं वस्तत्र यत्र पिता मम । तपस्तप्तुमभीप्सामि तापसैः परिरक्षिता ॥

uṣitāsmi tathā bālye piturveśmani tāpasāḥ | nāhaṃ gamiṣye bhadraṃ vastatra yatra pitā mama | tapastaptumabhīpsāmi tāpasaiḥ parirakṣitā

I lived in my father's house in my childhood, O ascetics. I will not go where my father is; may it be well with you. I wish to practise austerities under the protection of the ascetics.

Verse 14 (5.176.14)

यथा परेऽपि मे लोके न स्यादेवं महात्ययः । दौर्भाग्यं तापसश्रेष्ठास्तस्मात्तप्स्याम्यहं तपः ॥

yathā pare'pi me loke na syādevaṃ mahātyayaḥ | daurbhāgyaṃ tāpasaśreṣṭhāstasmāttapsyāmyahaṃ tapaḥ

So that in the next world too such ruin and such ill fortune may not befall me, best of ascetics, I shall practise austerities.

Verse 15 (5.176.15)

इत्येवं तेषु विप्रेषु चिन्तयत्सु यथातथम् । राजर्षिस्तद्वनं प्राप्तस्तपस्वी होत्रवाहनः । तां तथा भाविनीं दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वा चोद्विग्नमानसः ॥

ityevaṃ teṣu vipreṣu cintayatsu yathātatham | rājarṣistadvanaṃ prāptastapasvī hotravāhanaḥ | tāṃ tathā bhāvinīṃ dṛṣṭvā śrutvā codvignamānasaḥ

While those Brahmins were weighing the matter in this way, the royal sage Hotravahana, an ascetic, came to that forest; and seeing the young woman in that state and hearing her, he was troubled at heart.

Note on the text: Corrected चिन्तयन्सु → चिन्तयत्सु and चोद्विग्रमानसः → चोद्विग्नमानसः (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads cintayatsu and codvignamānasaḥ). Removed the stray quote marks (` … ') around the third line. That line is not in the critical edition's text; its apparatus has it as 5.174.14d*0573 (भाविनीं for bhāminīṃ kept as a variant). यथातथम् (CE tathā tathā) kept as a variant.

Verse 16 (5.176.16)

ततस्ते तापसाः सर्वे पूजयन्ति स्म तं नृपम् । पूजाभिः स्वागताद्याभिरासनेनोदकेन च ॥

tataste tāpasāḥ sarve pūjayanti sma taṃ nṛpam | pūjābhiḥ svāgatādyābhirāsanenodakena ca

Then all the ascetics honoured the king with the customary courtesies, with words of welcome and the rest, a seat and water.

Verse 17 (5.176.17)

तस्योपविष्टस्य सतो विश्रान्तस्योपशृण्वतः । पुनरेव कथां चक्रुः कन्यां प्रति वनौकसः ॥

tasyopaviṣṭasya sato viśrāntasyopaśṛṇvataḥ | punareva kathāṃ cakruḥ kanyāṃ prati vanaukasaḥ

When he had sat down and rested and was listening, the forest-dwellers took up their talk about the maiden once more.

Note on the text: Corrected विश्रान्तस्योपश्रृण्वतः → विश्रान्तस्योपशृण्वतः (misprint in Wikisource; श्रृ for शृ; the critical edition reads viśrāntasyopaśṛṇvataḥ).

Verse 18 (5.176.18)

अम्बायास्तां कथां श्रुत्वा काशिराज्ञश्च भारत । राजर्षिः स महातेजा बभूवोद्विग्नमानसः ॥

ambāyāstāṃ kathāṃ śrutvā kāśirājñaśca bhārata | rājarṣiḥ sa mahātejā babhūvodvignamānasaḥ

Hearing that account of Amba and of the king of Kashi, O Bharata, the royal sage of great splendour grew deeply troubled.

Note on the text: Corrected बभूवोद्विग्रमानसः → बभूवोद्विग्नमानसः (misprint in Wikisource; the apparatus reads babhūvodvignamānasaḥ). The first line is CE 5.174.17a; the second is not in the critical edition's text — its apparatus has it as 5.174.17b*0574, line 1.

Verse 19 (5.176.19)

तां तथावादिनीं श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा च स महातपाः । राजर्षिः कृपयाविष्टो महात्मा होत्रवाहनः ॥

tāṃ tathāvādinīṃ śrutvā dṛṣṭvā ca sa mahātapāḥ | rājarṣiḥ kṛpayāviṣṭo mahātmā hotravāhanaḥ

Hearing her speak so, and seeing her, that great ascetic, the high-souled royal sage Hotravahana, was filled with compassion.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text; its apparatus has it as 5.174.17b*0574, lines 2–3.

Verse 20 (5.176.20)

स वेपमान उत्थाय मातुस्तस्याः पिता तदा । तां कन्यामङ्कमारोप्य पर्याश्वासयत प्रभो ॥

sa vepamāna utthāya mātustasyāḥ pitā tadā | tāṃ kanyāmaṅkamāropya paryāśvāsayata prabho

Trembling, he rose, for he was her mother's father, and taking the maiden on his lap he comforted her, my lord.

Note on the text: Corrected पर्यश्वासयत → पर्याश्वासयत (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped vowel sign, pari-ā-√śvas; the critical edition reads paryāśvāsayata). This verse is CE 5.174.17cd (मातुस्तस्याः for mātur asyāḥ kept as a variant).

Verse 21 (5.176.21)

स तामपृच्छत्कार्त्स्न्येन व्यसनोत्पत्तिमादितः । सा च तस्मै यथावृत्तं विस्तरेण न्यवेदयत् ॥

sa tāmapṛcchatkārtsnyena vyasanotpattimāditaḥ | sā ca tasmai yathāvṛttaṃ vistareṇa nyavedayat

He asked her about it all, how her misfortune had come about from the beginning, and she told him in detail everything that had happened.

Verse 22 (5.176.22)

ततः स राजर्षिरभूद्दुःखशोकसमन्वितः । कार्यं च प्रतिपेदे तन्मनसा सुमहातपाः ॥

tataḥ sa rājarṣirabhūdduḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ | kāryaṃ ca pratipede tanmanasā sumahātapāḥ

Then the royal sage was overcome with grief and sorrow, and that great ascetic settled in his mind what was to be done.

Note on the text: Corrected तन्मनसां → तन्मनसा (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvara; the critical edition reads tan manasā).

Verse 23 (5.176.23)

अब्रवीद्वेपमानश्च कन्यामार्तां सुदुःखितः । मा गाः पितुर्गृहं भद्रे मातुस्ते जनको ह्यहम् ॥

abravīdvepamānaśca kanyāmārtāṃ suduḥkhitaḥ | mā gāḥ piturgṛhaṃ bhadre mātuste janako hyaham

Trembling and deeply grieved, he said to the distressed maiden: "Do not go to your father's house, good lady; I am your mother's father.

Verse 24 (5.176.24)

दुःखं छिन्द्यामहं ते वै मयि वर्तस्व पुत्रिके । पर्याप्तं ते मनो वत्से यदेवं परिशुष्यसि ॥

duḥkhaṃ chindyāmahaṃ te vai mayi vartasva putrike | paryāptaṃ te mano vatse yadevaṃ pariśuṣyasi

I will cut away your sorrow; rely on me, my daughter. Your heart has suffered enough, child, that you waste away like this.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Hotravahana: the verse is wholly his speech to Amba (Wikisource prints no heading; the input carried भीष्म).

Verse 25 (5.176.25)

गच्छ मद्वचनाद्रामं जामदग्न्यं तपस्विनम् । रामस्ते सुमहद्दुःखं शोकं चैवापनेष्यति ॥

gaccha madvacanādrāmaṃ jāmadagnyaṃ tapasvinam | rāmaste sumahadduḥkhaṃ śokaṃ caivāpaneṣyati

At my word, go to Rama, the son of Jamadagni, the ascetic. Rama will take away your great suffering and your grief.

Note on the text: This verse is CE 5.174.22ab; Wikisource divides verses 25–29 differently from the critical edition (CE 5.174.22–26). Speaker set to Hotravahana: the verse is wholly his speech (no heading in Wikisource; the input carried भीष्म).

Verse 26 (5.176.26)

हनिष्यति रणे भीष्मं न करिष्यति चेद्वचः । तं गच्छ भार्गवश्रेष्ठं कालाग्निसमतेजसम् ॥

haniṣyati raṇe bhīṣmaṃ na kariṣyati cedvacaḥ | taṃ gaccha bhārgavaśreṣṭhaṃ kālāgnisamatejasam

If Bhishma will not do as he says, he will slay him in battle. Go to that best of the Bhargavas, whose splendour is like the fire at the end of time.

Note on the text: The first line is CE 5.174.22ef, the second CE 5.174.23ab. Speaker set to Hotravahana: the verse is wholly his speech (no heading in Wikisource; the input carried भीष्म).

Verse 27 (5.176.27)

प्रतिष्ठापयिता स त्वां समे पथि महातपाः । ततस्तु सुस्वरं बाष्पमुत्सृजन्ती पुनः पुनः ॥

pratiṣṭhāpayitā sa tvāṃ same pathi mahātapāḥ | tatastu susvaraṃ bāṣpamutsṛjantī punaḥ punaḥ

"That great ascetic will set you on an even path." Then, weeping aloud and shedding tears again and again,

Note on the text: Corrected बाष्पसुत्सृजन्ती → बाष्पमुत्सृजन्ती (misprint in Wikisource; स for म; the critical edition reads bāṣpam utsṛjantī). सुस्वरं (CE sasvaraṃ) kept as a variant. The first line is CE 5.174.23cd, the second CE 5.174.24ab.

Verse 28 (5.176.28)

अब्रवीत्पितरं मातुः सा तदा होत्रवाहनम् । अभिवादयित्वा शिरसा गमिष्ये तव शासनात् ॥

abravītpitaraṃ mātuḥ sā tadā hotravāhanam | abhivādayitvā śirasā gamiṣye tava śāsanāt

she said to her mother's father, Hotravahana: "Bowing my head to you, I shall go at your command.

Note on the text: Corrected मा → सा (misprint in Wikisource; मा "do not" makes no sense here; the critical edition reads mātuḥ sā tadā). The first line is CE 5.174.24cd, the second CE 5.174.25ab.

Verse 29 (5.176.29)

अपि नामाद्य पश्येयमार्यं तं लोकविश्रुतम् । कथं च तीव्रं दुःखं मे नाशयिष्यति भार्गवः । एतदिच्छाम्यहं ज्ञातुं यथा यास्यामि तत्र वै ॥

api nāmādya paśyeyamāryaṃ taṃ lokaviśrutam | kathaṃ ca tīvraṃ duḥkhaṃ me nāśayiṣyati bhārgavaḥ | etadicchāmyahaṃ jñātuṃ yathā yāsyāmi tatra vai

May I really see that noble one, renowned throughout the world, this very day? And how will the Bhargava destroy my bitter sorrow? This I wish to know, and how I am to go there."

Note on the text: Corrected दुःकं → दुःखं, नाशकयिष्यति → नाशयिष्यति, यास्यमि → यास्यामि and वैः → वै (misprints in Wikisource; a wrong, a stray and a dropped akshara or sign; the critical edition reads duḥkhaṃ, yāsyāmi tatra vai). नाशयिष्यति (CE haniṣyati sa), ज्ञातुं (CE śrotum) and यथा (CE atha) kept as variants. The first line is CE 5.174.25cd, the rest CE 5.174.26. Speaker set to Amba: the verse is wholly her speech (no heading in Wikisource; the input carried भीष्म).

Verse 30 (5.176.30)

रामं द्रक्ष्यसि भद्रे त्वं जामदग्न्यं महावने । उग्रे तपसि वर्तन्तं सत्यसन्धं महाबलम् ॥

rāmaṃ drakṣyasi bhadre tvaṃ jāmadagnyaṃ mahāvane | ugre tapasi vartantaṃ satyasandhaṃ mahābalam

You will see Rama, son of Jamadagni, in the great forest, good lady, engaged in fierce austerities, true to his word and of great strength.

Verse 31 (5.176.31)

महेन्द्रं वै गिरिश्रेष्ठं रामो नित्यमुपास्ति ह । ऋषयो वेदविद्वांसो गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा ॥

mahendraṃ vai giriśreṣṭhaṃ rāmo nityamupāsti ha | ṛṣayo vedavidvāṃso gandharvāpsarasastathā

Rama stays always on Mahendra, best of mountains, and so do sages learned in the Vedas, and Gandharvas and Apsarases.

Verse 32 (5.176.32)

तत्र गच्छस्व भद्रं ते ब्रूयाश्चैनं वचो मम । अभिवाद्य च तं मूर्ध्ना तपोवृद्धं दृढव्रतम् ॥

tatra gacchasva bhadraṃ te brūyāścainaṃ vaco mama | abhivādya ca taṃ mūrdhnā tapovṛddhaṃ dṛḍhavratam

Go there, and may it be well with you; bow your head to him, rich in austerity and firm in his vows, and give him my message.

Note on the text: Corrected मूंर्ध्ना → मूर्ध्ना (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvara). The critical edition reads pūrvaṃ śirasā here; मूर्ध्ना kept as a variant.

Verse 33 (5.176.33)

ब्रूयाश्चैनं पुनर्भद्रे यत्ते कार्यं मनीषितम् । मयि संकीर्तिते रामः सर्वं तत्ते करिष्यति ॥

brūyāścainaṃ punarbhadre yatte kāryaṃ manīṣitam | mayi saṃkīrtite rāmaḥ sarvaṃ tatte kariṣyati

Then tell him, good lady, the task you have in mind. When my name is spoken, Rama will do all of it for you.

Verse 34 (5.176.34)

मम रामः सखा वत्से प्रीतियुक्तः सुहृच्च मे । जमदग्निसुतो वीरः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः ॥

mama rāmaḥ sakhā vatse prītiyuktaḥ suhṛcca me | jamadagnisuto vīraḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ

Rama is my friend, child, bound to me in affection and wishing me well: the heroic son of Jamadagni, best of all who bear arms.

Verse 35 (5.176.35)

एवं ब्रुवति कन्यां तु पार्थिवे होत्रवाहने । अकृतव्रणः प्रादुरासीद्रामस्यानुचरः प्रियः ॥

evaṃ bruvati kanyāṃ tu pārthive hotravāhane | akṛtavraṇaḥ prādurāsīdrāmasyānucaraḥ priyaḥ

While King Hotravahana was speaking thus to the maiden, Akritavrana, Rama's beloved follower, appeared.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma: verses 35–39 are narration (the input carried होत्रवाहन over from his speech).

Verse 36 (5.176.36)

ततस्ते मुनयः सर्वे समुत्तस्थुः सहस्रशः । स च राजा वयोवृद्धः सृञ्जयो होत्रवाहनः ॥

tataste munayaḥ sarve samuttasthuḥ sahasraśaḥ | sa ca rājā vayovṛddhaḥ sṛñjayo hotravāhanaḥ

Then all the sages, in their thousands, rose up, and so did the aged king, Hotravahana of the Srinjayas.

Note on the text: Corrected मनुयः → मुनयः, महस्रशः → सहस्रशः and सृञ्ययो → सृञ्जयो (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads munayaḥ, sahasraśaḥ, sṛñjayo). Speaker set to Bhishma (narration).

Verse 37 (5.176.37)

ततो दृष्ट्वा कृतातिथ्यमन्योन्यं ते वनौकसः । सहिता भरतश्रेष्ठ निषेदुः परिवार्य तम् ॥

tato dṛṣṭvā kṛtātithyamanyonyaṃ te vanaukasaḥ | sahitā bharataśreṣṭha niṣeduḥ parivārya tam

Then, having seen one another and done the honours of hospitality, those forest-dwellers sat down together around him, best of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma (narration). दृष्ट्वा कृतातिथ्यम् (CE pṛṣṭvā yathānyāyam) kept as a variant.

Verse 38 (5.176.38)

ततस्ते कथयामासुः कथास्तास्ता मनोरमाः । धन्या दिव्याश्च राजेन्द्र प्रीतिहर्षमुदा युताः ॥

tataste kathayāmāsuḥ kathāstāstā manoramāḥ | dhanyā divyāśca rājendra prītiharṣamudā yutāḥ

Then they told one another all manner of delightful stories, blessed and divine, O king of kings, full of affection, joy and gladness.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma (narration).

Verse 39 (5.176.39)

ततः कथान्ते राजर्षिर्महात्मा होत्रवाहनः । रामं श्रेष्ठं महर्षीणामपृच्छदकृतव्रणम् ॥

tataḥ kathānte rājarṣirmahātmā hotravāhanaḥ | rāmaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ maharṣīṇāmapṛcchadakṛtavraṇam

Then, when the talk was over, the high-souled royal sage Hotravahana asked Akritavrana about Rama, the foremost of the great sages:

Note on the text: Speaker set to Bhishma (narration).

Verse 40 (5.176.40)

क्व संप्रति महाबाहो जामदग्न्यः प्रतापवान् । अकृतव्रण शक्यो वै द्रष्टुं वेदविदां वर ॥

kva saṃprati mahābāho jāmadagnyaḥ pratāpavān | akṛtavraṇa śakyo vai draṣṭuṃ vedavidāṃ vara

"Where is the mighty son of Jamadagni now, strong-armed one? Can he be seen, Akritavrana, best of those who know the Vedas?"

Note on the text: Corrected द्रुष्टुं → द्रष्टुं (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads draṣṭuṃ). Speaker kept as Hotravahana: the verse is wholly his question.

Verse 41 (5.176.41)

भवन्तमेव सततं रामः कीर्तयति प्रभो । सृञ्जयो मे प्रियसखो राजर्षिरिति पार्थिव ॥

bhavantameva satataṃ rāmaḥ kīrtayati prabho | sṛñjayo me priyasakho rājarṣiriti pārthiva

My lord, Rama speaks of you constantly, O king: "Srinjaya, the royal sage, is my dear friend."

Verse 42 (5.176.42)

इह रामः प्रभाते श्वो भवितेति मतिर्मम । द्रष्टास्येनमिहायान्तं तव दर्शनकाङ्क्षया ॥

iha rāmaḥ prabhāte śvo bhaviteti matirmama | draṣṭāsyenamihāyāntaṃ tava darśanakāṅkṣayā

I think Rama will be here tomorrow at dawn. You will see him come here, wishing to see you.

Note on the text: Corrected द्रष्टस्येनम् → द्रष्टास्येनम् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped vowel sign; the critical edition reads draṣṭāsy enam).

Verse 43 (5.176.43)

इयं च कन्या राजर्षे किमर्थं वनमागता । कस्य चेयं तव च का भवतीच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥

iyaṃ ca kanyā rājarṣe kimarthaṃ vanamāgatā | kasya ceyaṃ tava ca kā bhavatīcchāmi veditum

And this maiden, royal sage: why has she come to the forest? Whose daughter is she, and what is she to you? I wish to know.

Verse 44 (5.176.44)

दौहित्रीयं मम विभो काशिराजसुता प्रिया । ज्येष्ठा स्वयंवरे तस्थौ भगिनीभ्यां सहानघ ॥

dauhitrīyaṃ mama vibho kāśirājasutā priyā | jyeṣṭhā svayaṃvare tasthau bhaginībhyāṃ sahānagha

She is my daughter's daughter, my lord, the dear daughter of the king of Kashi. The eldest, sinless one, she stood at the bride-choice with her two sisters.

Note on the text: Corrected सहानध → सहानघ (misprint in Wikisource; ध for घ; the critical edition reads sahānagha). प्रिया (CE śubhā) kept as a variant.

Verse 45 (5.176.45)

इयमम्बेति विख्याता ज्येष्ठा काशिपतेः सुता । अम्बिकाम्बालिके कन्ये कनीयस्यौ तपोधन ॥

iyamambeti vikhyātā jyeṣṭhā kāśipateḥ sutā | ambikāmbālike kanye kanīyasyau tapodhana

This is the eldest daughter of the lord of Kashi, known as Amba; the maidens Ambika and Ambalika are the younger ones, O ascetic.

Verse 46 (5.176.46)

समेतं पार्थिवं क्षत्रं काशिपुर्यां ततोऽभवत् । कन्यानिमित्तं विप्रर्षे तत्रासीदुत्सवो महान् ॥

sametaṃ pārthivaṃ kṣatraṃ kāśipuryāṃ tato'bhavat | kanyānimittaṃ viprarṣe tatrāsīdutsavo mahān

Then the kshatriya kings gathered in the city of Kashi, and there was a great festival there on account of the maidens, Brahmin sage.

Verse 47 (5.176.47)

ततः किल महावीर्यो भीष्मः शान्तनवो नृपान् । अधिक्षिप्य महातेजास्तिस्त्रः कन्या जहार ताः ॥

tataḥ kila mahāvīryo bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo nṛpān | adhikṣipya mahātejāstistraḥ kanyā jahāra tāḥ

Then, it is said, the mighty Bhishma, son of Shantanu, of great splendour, defied the kings and carried off the three maidens.

Note on the text: Corrected तता → ततः (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads tataḥ kila). अधिक्षिप्य (CE avākṣipya) kept as a variant.

Verse 48 (5.176.48)

निर्जित्य पृथिवीपालानथ भीष्मो गजाह्वयम् । आजगाम विशुद्धात्मा कन्याभिः सह भारतः ॥

nirjitya pṛthivīpālānatha bhīṣmo gajāhvayam | ājagāma viśuddhātmā kanyābhiḥ saha bhārataḥ

Having defeated the rulers of the earth, Bhishma, the pure-souled descendant of Bharata, came to Hastinapura with the maidens.

Note on the text: Corrected जगाह्वयम् → गजाह्वयम् (misprint in Wikisource; transposed aksharas; the critical edition reads gajāhvayam). भारतः (CE bhārata) kept as a variant.

Verse 49 (5.176.49)

सत्यवत्यै निवेद्याथ विवाहं समनन्तरम् । भ्रातुर्विचित्रवीर्यस्य समाज्ञापयत प्रभुः ॥

satyavatyai nivedyātha vivāhaṃ samanantaram | bhrāturvicitravīryasya samājñāpayata prabhuḥ

Having told Satyavati, the lord then ordered that the wedding of his brother Vichitravirya should follow at once.

Verse 50 (5.176.50)

तं तु वैवाहिकं दृष्ट्वा कन्येयं समुपार्जितम् । अब्रवीत्तत्र गाङ्गेयं मन्त्रिमध्ये द्विजर्षभ ॥

taṃ tu vaivāhikaṃ dṛṣṭvā kanyeyaṃ samupārjitam | abravīttatra gāṅgeyaṃ mantrimadhye dvijarṣabha

Seeing the wedding preparations under way, this maiden spoke there to the son of Ganga in the midst of his counsellors, bull among the twice-born:

Verse 51 (5.176.51)

मया साल्वपतिर्वीरो मनसाऽभिवृतः पतिः । न मामर्हसि धर्मज्ञ दातुं भ्रात्रेऽन्यमानसाम् ॥

mayā sālvapatirvīro manasā'bhivṛtaḥ patiḥ | na māmarhasi dharmajña dātuṃ bhrātre'nyamānasām

"In my heart I have chosen the heroic lord of the Salvas as my husband. You who know dharma should not give me to your brother when my heart belongs to another."

Note on the text: Corrected ममार्हसि → मामर्हसि (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads na mām arhasi). The verse is CE 5.175.22 (left unmatched by the alignment); वीरो and दातुं भ्रात्रेऽन्यमानसाम् (CE vīra, paracittāṃ pradāpitum) kept as variants.

Verse 52 (5.176.52)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं भीष्मः संमन्त्र्य सह मन्त्रिभिः । निश्चित्य विससर्जेमां सत्यवत्या मते स्थितः ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṃ bhīṣmaḥ saṃmantrya saha mantribhiḥ | niścitya visasarjemāṃ satyavatyā mate sthitaḥ

Hearing these words, Bhishma consulted his counsellors, made up his mind, and, abiding by Satyavati's view, let her go.

Verse 53 (5.176.53)

अनुज्ञाता तु भीष्मेण साल्वं सौभपतिं ततः । कन्येयं मुदिता तत्र काले वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

anujñātā tu bhīṣmeṇa sālvaṃ saubhapatiṃ tataḥ | kanyeyaṃ muditā tatra kāle vacanamabravīt

Given leave by Bhishma, this maiden then gladly spoke these words at the time to Salva, lord of Saubha:

Note on the text: Corrected वाचनमब्रवीत् → वचनमब्रवीत् (misprint in Wikisource; a stray vowel sign; the critical edition reads vacanam abravīt).

Verse 54 (5.176.54)

विसर्जितास्मि भीष्मेण धर्मं मां प्रतिपादय । मनसाभिवृतः पूर्वं मया त्वं पार्थिवर्षभ ॥

visarjitāsmi bhīṣmeṇa dharmaṃ māṃ pratipādaya | manasābhivṛtaḥ pūrvaṃ mayā tvaṃ pārthivarṣabha

"I have been released by Bhishma; take me as your lawful wife. I chose you in my heart long before, bull among kings."

Note on the text: Corrected मनसाभिवृत्तः → मनसाभिवृतः and पार्थिवर्षम → पार्थिवर्षभ (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads manasābhivṛtaḥ and pārthivarṣabha).

Verse 55 (5.176.55)

प्रत्याचख्यौ च साल्वोऽस्याश्चारित्रस्याभिशङ्कितः । सेयं तपोवनं प्राप्ता तापस्येऽभिरता भृशम् ॥

pratyācakhyau ca sālvo'syāścāritrasyābhiśaṅkitaḥ | seyaṃ tapovanaṃ prāptā tāpasye'bhiratā bhṛśam

But Salva, doubting her chastity, rejected her. So she has come to this forest of ascetics and is wholly given to austerity.

Verse 56 (5.176.56)

मया च प्रत्यभिज्ञाता वंशस्य परिकीर्तनात् । अस्य दुःखस्य चोत्पत्तिं भीष्ममेवेह मन्यते ॥

mayā ca pratyabhijñātā vaṃśasya parikīrtanāt | asya duḥkhasya cotpattiṃ bhīṣmameveha manyate

I recognised her when she told of her family. She holds that Bhishma alone is the cause of this sorrow.

Verse 57 (5.176.57)

भगवन्नेवमेवेह यथाह पृथिवीपतिः । शरीरकर्ता मातुर्मे सृञ्जयो होत्रवाहनः ॥

bhagavannevameveha yathāha pṛthivīpatiḥ | śarīrakartā māturme sṛñjayo hotravāhanaḥ

Blessed one, it is just as the lord of the earth has said. Srinjaya Hotravahana is the father of my mother.

Verse 58 (5.176.58)

न ह्युत्सहे स्वनगरं प्रतियातुं तपोधन । अपमानभयाच्चैव व्रीडया च महामुने ॥

na hyutsahe svanagaraṃ pratiyātuṃ tapodhana | apamānabhayāccaiva vrīḍayā ca mahāmune

I cannot bring myself to go back to my own city, O ascetic, for fear of dishonour and for shame, great sage.

Verse 59 (5.176.59)

यत्तु मां भगवान्रामो वक्ष्यति द्विजसत्तम । तन्मे कार्यतमं कार्यमिति मे भगवन्मतिः ॥

yattu māṃ bhagavānrāmo vakṣyati dvijasattama | tanme kāryatamaṃ kāryamiti me bhagavanmatiḥ

Whatever the blessed Rama tells me, best of the twice-born, that will be the first task I must do; this is my resolve, blessed one.