05.174
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said:
tataste tāpasāḥ sarve kāryavanto'bhavaṃstadā। tāṃ kanyāṃ cintayanto vai kiṃ kāryamiti dharmiṇaḥ ॥5-174-1॥
Then all the ascetics became active, pondering over what should be done about the girl, as was their duty.
kecid āhuḥ pitur veśma nīyatām iti tāpasāḥ। kecid asmad upālambhe matiṃ cakrur dvijottamāḥ ॥5-174-2॥
Some ascetics suggested taking him to his father's house, while some of the best Brahmins decided to reproach us.
kecicchālvapatiṃ gatvā niyojyamiti menire। neti kecidvyavasyanti pratyākhyātā hi tena sā ॥5-174-3॥
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.
evaṃ gate kiṃ nu śakyaṃ bhadre kartuṃ manīṣibhiḥ। punarūcuśca te sarve tāpasāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ ॥5-174-4॥
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.
alaṁ pravrajiteneha bhadre śṛṇu hitaṁ vacaḥ। ito gacchasva bhadraṁ te pitureva niveśanam ॥5-174-5॥
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.
pratipatsyati rājā sa pitā te yadanantaram। tatra vatsyasi kalyāṇi sukhaṃ sarvaguṇānvitā ॥ na ca te'nyā gatirnyāyyā bhavedbhadre yathā pitā ॥5-174-6॥
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.
patirvāpi gatirnāryāḥ pitā vā varavarṇini। gatiḥ patiḥ samasthāyā viṣame tu pitā gatiḥ ॥5-174-7॥
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.
pravrajyā hi suduḥkheyaṃ sukumāryā viśeṣataḥ। rājaputryāḥ prakṛtyā ca kumāryāstava bhāmini ॥5-174-8॥
Renunciation is indeed very challenging for someone as delicate as you, especially being a princess and by nature a maiden, O beautiful lady.
bhadre doṣā hi vidyante bahavo varavarṇini। āśrame vai vasantyāste na bhaveyuḥ piturgṛhe ॥5-174-9॥
O beautiful one, indeed, many faults exist in the hermitage, but they would not be present in your father's house.
tatastu te'bruvanvākyaṃ brāhmaṇāstāṃ tapasvinīm। tvāmihaikākinīṃ dṛṣṭvā nirjane gahane vane ॥ prārthayiṣyanti rājendrāstasmānmaivaṃ manaḥ kṛthāḥ ॥5-174-10॥
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.
ambovāca॥
The mother spoke:
na śakyaṃ kāśinagarīṃ punargantuṃ piturgṛhān। avajñātā bhaviṣyāmi bāndhavānāṃ na saṃśayaḥ ॥5-174-11॥
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.
uṣitā hyanyathā bālye piturveśmani tāpasāḥ। nāhaṃ gamiṣye bhadraṃ vastatra yatra pitā mama ॥ tapastaptumabhipsāmi tāpasaiḥ paripālitā ॥5-174-12॥
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.
yathā pare'pi me loke na syādevaṃ mahātyayaḥ। daurbhāgyaṃ brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhāstasmāttapsyāmyahaṃ tapaḥ ॥5-174-13॥
O best of Brahmins, in order to prevent such a great calamity and misfortune from occurring in my world, I shall therefore undertake penance.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma spoke:
ityevaṃ teṣu vipreṣu cintayatsu tathā tathā। rājarṣistadvanaṃ prāptastapasvī hotravāhanaḥ ॥5-174-14॥
While the wise were contemplating in various ways, the royal sage and ascetic Hotravahana arrived at the forest.
tataste tāpasāḥ sarve pūjayanti sma taṃ nṛpam। pūjābhiḥ svāgatādyābhirāsanenodakena ca ॥5-174-15॥
Then all the ascetics honored the king with offerings, greetings, a seat, and water.
tasyopaviṣṭasya tato viśrāntasyopaśṛṇvataḥ। punareva kathāṃ cakruḥ kanyāṃ prati vanaukasaḥ ॥5-174-16॥
As he sat there, resting and listening, the forest dwellers once more began to tell a story to the girl.
ambāyāstāṃ kathāṃ śrutvā kāśirājñaśca bhārata| sa vepamāna utthāya māturasyaḥ pitā tadā ॥ tāṃ kanyāmaṅkamāropya paryāśvāsayat prabho ॥5-174-17॥
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.
sa tāmapṛcchatkārtsnyena vyasanotpattimāditaḥ। sā ca tasmai yathāvṛttaṃ vistareṇa nyavedayat ॥5-174-18॥
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.
tataḥ sa rājarṣirabhūdduḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ। kāryaṃ ca pratipede tanmanasā sumahātapāḥ ॥5-174-19॥
Then the royal sage, overwhelmed with sorrow and grief, took upon his duties with a focused mind, demonstrating great austerity.
abravīdvepamānaśca kanyāmārtāṃ suduḥkhitaḥ। mā gāḥ pitṛgṛhaṃ bhadre mātuste janako hyaham ॥5-174-20॥
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."
duḥkhaṃ chetsyāmi te'haṃ vai mayi vartasva putrike। paryāptaṃ te manaḥ putri yadevaṃ pariśuṣyasi ॥5-174-21॥
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.
gaccha madvacanādrāmaṃ jāmadagnyaṃ tapasvinam। rāmastava mahadduḥkhaṃ śokaṃ cāpanayiṣyati ॥ haniṣyati raṇe bhīṣmaṃ na kariṣyati cedvacaḥ ॥5-174-22॥
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.
taṃ gaccha bhārgavaśreṣṭhaṃ kālāgnisamatejasam। pratiṣṭhāpayitā sa tvāṃ same pathi mahātapāḥ ॥5-174-23॥
Go to the illustrious Bhargava, whose brilliance rivals the fire of destruction. This great ascetic will guide you on the righteous path.
tatastu sasvaraṃ bāṣpamutsṛjantī punaḥ punaḥ। abravītpitaraṃ mātuḥ sā tadā hotravāhanam ॥5-174-24॥
Then, repeatedly shedding tears with a voice, she spoke to her mother's father, Hotravahana.
abhivādayitvā śirasā gamiṣye tava śāsanāt। api nāmādya paśyeyam āryaṃ taṃ lokaviśrutam ॥5-174-25॥
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.
kathaṁ ca tīvraṁ duḥkhaṁ me haniṣyati sa bhārgavaḥ। etadicchāmyahaṁ śrotumatha yāsyāmi tatra vai ॥5-174-26॥
I want to know how Bhārgava will alleviate my intense sorrow. I wish to hear this before I proceed there.
