05.174
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said:
ततस्ते तापसाः सर्वे कार्यवन्तोऽभवंस्तदा। तां कन्यां चिन्तयन्तो वै किं कार्यमिति धर्मिणः ॥५-१७४-१॥
Then all the ascetics became active, pondering over what should be done about the girl, as was their duty.
केचिदाहुः पितुर्वेश्म नीयतामिति तापसाः। केचिदस्मदुपालम्भे मतिं चक्रुर्द्विजोत्तमाः ॥५-१७४-२॥
Some ascetics suggested taking him to his father's house, while some of the best Brahmins decided to reproach us.
केचिच्छाल्वपतिं गत्वा नियोज्यमिति मेनिरे। नेति केचिद्व्यवस्यन्ति प्रत्याख्याता हि तेन सा ॥५-१७४-३॥
Some believed that they should go to the lord of the Śālvas to be employed, while others decided against it, as she was indeed rejected by him.
एवं गते किं नु शक्यं भद्रे कर्तुं मनीषिभिः। पुनरूचुश्च ते सर्वे तापसाः संशितव्रताः ॥५-१७४-४॥
When the situation was thus, what indeed could be done by the wise, O auspicious one? Then all those ascetics, firm in their vows, spoke again.
अलं प्रव्रजितेनेह भद्रे शृणु हितं वचः। इतो गच्छस्व भद्रं ते पितुरेव निवेशनम् ॥५-१७४-५॥
O auspicious one, it is enough of wandering here. Listen to these beneficial words: Go from here for your own welfare to your father's abode.
प्रतिपत्स्यति राजा स पिता ते यदनन्तरम्। तत्र वत्स्यसि कल्याणि सुखं सर्वगुणान्विता ॥ न च तेऽन्या गतिर्न्याय्या भवेद्भद्रे यथा पिता ॥५-१७४-६॥
Your father, the king, will take care of everything thereafter. You will live there happily, O blessed one, with all virtues. There is no other rightful path for you, dear lady, than what your father decides.
पतिर्वापि गतिर्नार्याः पिता वा वरवर्णिनि। गतिः पतिः समस्थाया विषमे तु पिता गतिः ॥५-१७४-७॥
O beautiful lady, either the husband or the father serves as the support for a woman. In normal circumstances, the husband is the support, but in difficult times, it is the father who provides support.
प्रव्रज्या हि सुदुःखेयं सुकुमार्या विशेषतः। राजपुत्र्याः प्रकृत्या च कुमार्यास्तव भामिनि ॥५-१७४-८॥
Renunciation is indeed very challenging for someone as delicate as you, especially being a princess and by nature a maiden, O beautiful lady.
भद्रे दोषा हि विद्यन्ते बहवो वरवर्णिनि। आश्रमे वै वसन्त्यास्ते न भवेयुः पितुर्गृहे ॥५-१७४-९॥
O beautiful one, indeed, many faults exist in the hermitage, but they would not be present in your father's house.
ततस्तु तेऽब्रुवन्वाक्यं ब्राह्मणास्तां तपस्विनीम्। त्वामिहैकाकिनीं दृष्ट्वा निर्जने गहने वने ॥ प्रार्थयिष्यन्ति राजेन्द्रास्तस्मान्मैवं मनः कृथाः ॥५-१७४-१०॥
Then the Brahmins spoke to the ascetic woman, warning her that being alone in the dense and deserted forest might attract the attention of kings, and advised her not to entertain such thoughts.
अम्बोवाच॥
The mother spoke:
न शक्यं काशिनगरीं पुनर्गन्तुं पितुर्गृहान्। अवज्ञाता भविष्यामि बान्धवानां न संशयः ॥५-१७४-११॥
It is impossible for me to return to the city of Kashi, to my father's house. I will undoubtedly be disregarded by my relatives.
उषिता ह्यन्यथा बाल्ये पितुर्वेश्मनि तापसाः। नाहं गमिष्ये भद्रं वस्तत्र यत्र पिता मम ॥ तपस्तप्तुमभीप्सामि तापसैः परिपालिता ॥५-१७४-१२॥
Indeed, I lived differently in my childhood in my father's house with ascetics. I will not go to the place where my father is. I wish to perform penance, protected by the ascetics.
यथा परेऽपि मे लोके न स्यादेवं महात्ययः। दौर्भाग्यं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठास्तस्मात्तप्स्याम्यहं तपः ॥५-१७४-१३॥
O best of Brahmins, in order to prevent such a great calamity and misfortune from occurring in my world, I shall therefore undertake penance.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma spoke:
इत्येवं तेषु विप्रेषु चिन्तयत्सु तथा तथा। राजर्षिस्तद्वनं प्राप्तस्तपस्वी होत्रवाहनः ॥५-१७४-१४॥
While the wise were contemplating in various ways, the royal sage and ascetic Hotravahana arrived at the forest.
ततस्ते तापसाः सर्वे पूजयन्ति स्म तं नृपम्। पूजाभिः स्वागताद्याभिरासनेनोदकेन च ॥५-१७४-१५॥
Then all the ascetics honored the king with offerings, greetings, a seat, and water.
तस्योपविष्टस्य ततो विश्रान्तस्योपशृण्वतः। पुनरेव कथां चक्रुः कन्यां प्रति वनौकसः ॥५-१७४-१६॥
As he sat there, resting and listening, the forest dwellers once more began to tell a story to the girl.
अम्बायास्तां कथां श्रुत्वा काशिराज्ञश्च भारत। स वेपमान उत्थाय मातुरस्याः पिता तदा ॥ तां कन्यामङ्कमारोप्य पर्याश्वासयत प्रभो ॥५-१७४-१७॥
Upon hearing the story of Ambā, the trembling king of Kāśi rose, and then the father of her mother placed the girl on his lap and consoled her, O Bhārata.
स तामपृच्छत्कार्त्स्न्येन व्यसनोत्पत्तिमादितः। सा च तस्मै यथावृत्तं विस्तरेण न्यवेदयत् ॥५-१७४-१८॥
He inquired from her thoroughly about the origin of the misfortune from the start, and she explained everything to him in detail as it had occurred.
ततः स राजर्षिरभूद्दुःखशोकसमन्वितः। कार्यं च प्रतिपेदे तन्मनसा सुमहातपाः ॥५-१७४-१९॥
Then the royal sage, overwhelmed with sorrow and grief, took upon his duties with a focused mind, demonstrating great austerity.
अब्रवीद्वेपमानश्च कन्यामार्तां सुदुःखितः। मा गाः पितृगृहं भद्रे मातुस्ते जनको ह्यहम् ॥५-१७४-२०॥
Trembling and filled with sorrow, he spoke to the distressed girl: "Do not return to your father's home, dear one, for I am truly your mother's father."
दुःखं छेत्स्यामि तेऽहं वै मयि वर्तस्व पुत्रिके। पर्याप्तं ते मनः पुत्रि यदेवं परिशुष्यसि ॥५-१७४-२१॥
I will relieve you of your sorrow, indeed, stay with me, dear daughter. Your mind is strong enough, dear daughter, when you feel so desolate.
गच्छ मद्वचनाद्रामं जामदग्न्यं तपस्विनम्। रामस्तव महद्दुःखं शोकं चापनयिष्यति ॥ हनिष्यति रणे भीष्मं न करिष्यति चेद्वचः ॥५-१७४-२२॥
Go to Rama, the son of Jamadagni, the ascetic, as per my words. Rama will alleviate your great sorrow and grief. He will kill Bhishma in battle if he does not follow the words.
तं गच्छ भार्गवश्रेष्ठं कालाग्निसमतेजसम्। प्रतिष्ठापयिता स त्वां समे पथि महातपाः ॥५-१७४-२३॥
Go to the illustrious Bhargava, whose brilliance rivals the fire of destruction. This great ascetic will guide you on the righteous path.
ततस्तु सस्वरं बाष्पमुत्सृजन्ती पुनः पुनः। अब्रवीत्पितरं मातुः सा तदा होत्रवाहनम् ॥५-१७४-२४॥
Then, repeatedly shedding tears with a voice, she spoke to her mother's father, Hotravahana.
अभिवादयित्वा शिरसा गमिष्ये तव शासनात्। अपि नामाद्य पश्येयमार्यं तं लोकविश्रुतम् ॥५-१७४-२५॥
After paying respects with a bow, I will proceed as per your command. Hopefully, today I will be able to see the noble, world-renowned person.
कथं च तीव्रं दुःखं मे हनिष्यति स भार्गवः। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुमथ यास्यामि तत्र वै ॥५-१७४-२६॥
I want to know how Bhārgava will alleviate my intense sorrow. I wish to hear this before I proceed there.
