भीष्म उवाच ततस्ते तपासाः सर्वे कार्यवन्तोऽभवंस्तदा। तां कन्यां चिन्तयन्तस्ते किं कार्यमिति धर्मिणः॥
Bhishma said Then did all those anchorites engage themselves in their respective duties and those virtuous ones thought as to what they should do for that lady.
केचिदाहुः पितुर्वेश्म नीयतामिति तापसाः। केचिदस्मदुपालम्भे मतिं चक्रुर्हि तापसाः॥
Some among them then said “Let us take her to her father's place," and some of the anchorites thought of finding fault with ourselves.
केचिच्छाल्वपतिं गत्वा नियोज्यमिति मेनिरे। नेति केचिद् व्यवस्यन्ति प्रत्याख्याता हि तेन सा॥
Some thought of going to the king of the Shalvas and ask him to accept the girl: some said 'nay' to this proposal for she was rejected by him.
एवं गते तु किं शक्यं भद्रे कर्तुं मनीषिभिः। पुनरूचुश्च तां सर्वे तापसाः संशितव्रताः॥
Then did all those anchorites say again to her:-It being so, gentle lady, what can these anchorites do for you, endued with intelligence and self-control though they are?
अलं प्रव्रजितेनेह भद्रे शृणु हितं वचः। इतो गच्छस्व भनं ते पितुरेव निवेशनम्॥
There is no need for you to roam about in these woods: Listen to wards that are of benefit to you and go hence to your father's place; may you fare well.
प्रतिपत्स्यति राजा स पिता ते यदनन्तरम्। तत्र वत्स्यसि कल्याणि सुखं सर्वगुणान्विता॥
The king, your father, will do what is proper for you and, O blessed lady, you will live there in happiness, endued with all accomplishments as you are.
न च तेऽन्या गतिाय्या भवेद् भद्रे यथा पिता। पतिर्वापि गतिर्नार्याः पिता वा वरवर्णिनि॥
There is no other proper refuge for you, O gentle lady, save your father; for either the father or the husband is the refuge of a woman, O you or fair complexion.
गतिः पतिः समस्थाया विषमे च पिता गतिः। प्रव्रज्या हि सुदुःखेयं सुकुमार्या विशेषतः॥
A husband is a woman's refuge under smoother circumstances and in a difficult situation a father is the refuge; roaming about is a hard task, especially for those brought up in luxury.
राजपुत्र्याः प्रकृत्या च कुमार्यास्तव भामिनि। भद्रे दोषा हि विद्यन्ते बहवो वरवर्णिनि॥
Being a princess, you are naturally delicate, O romantic lady; there are many disadvantages, O you of beautiful complexion,
आश्रमे वै वसन्त्यास्ते न भवेयुः पितुर्गुहे। ततस्त्वन्येऽब्रुवन् वाक्यं तापसास्तां तपस्विनीम्॥
In a life in the hermitage while there will be none in your father's place. Then did other anchorites say to that female devotee these
त्वामिहैकाकिनी दृष्ट्वा निर्जने गहने वने। प्रार्थयिष्यन्ति राजानस्तस्मान्मैवं मनः कृथाः॥
Seeing yourself alone in these dreary and solitary woods kings will court you; therefore do not set your heart on such a life.
अम्बोवाच न शक्यं काशिनगरं पुनर्गन्तुं पितुर्ग्रहान्। अवज्ञाता भविष्यामि बान्धवानां न संशयः॥
Amba said I cannot go to the city of Kashi to my father's place for I shall doubtless to disgraced by my friends.
उषिताऽस्मि तथा बाल्ये पितुर्वेश्मनि तापसाः। नाहं गमिष्ये भद्रं वस्तत्र यत्र पिता मम। तपस्तप्तुमभीप्सामि तापसैः परिरक्षिता॥
O ascetics, in my childhood did I live in my father's place but now I shall not go where my father is; may you fare well.
यथा परेऽपि मे लोके न स्यादेवं महात्ययः। दौर्भाग्यं तापसश्रेष्ठास्तस्मात् तप्स्याम्यहं तपः॥
I desire to practice asceticism protected by anchorites so that in the next world too I may not meet with such dire calamities. O foremost among ascetics, therefore am I desirous of practicing asceticism.
भीष्म उवाच इत्येवं तेषु विप्रेषु चिन्तयत्सु यथातथम्। राजर्षिस्तद् वनं प्राप्तस्तपस्वी होत्रवाहनः॥
Bhishma said While those regenerate persons were thus thinking of the merit of the case, the royal sage Hotravahana came into that forest.
ततस्ते तापसाः सर्वे पूजयन्ति स्म तं नृपम्। पूजाभिः स्वागताधाभिरासनेनोदकेन च॥
Then did all those ascetics worship that ruler of men and welcome him with their greetings, seat and water.
तस्योपविष्टस्य सतो विश्रान्तस्योपशृण्वतः। पुनरेव कथां चक्रुः कन्यां प्रति वनौकसः॥
Then did those dwellers of the forest again address that lady in the hearing of that sage after he had taken his seat and rested himself a little.
अम्बायास्तां कथां श्रुत्वा काशिराज्ञश्च भारत। राजर्षिः स महातेजा बभूवोद्विग्नमानसः॥ पिता तदा।
Hearing those words of Amba, the daughter of the king of the Kashis, O Bharata, that royal sage of great energy became filled with pity.
तां तथावादिनीं श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा च स महातपाः। राजर्षिः कृपयाऽऽविष्टो महात्मा होत्रवाहनः॥
That king of great austerities, the greatsouled royal sage Hotravahana, seeing her and hearing her speak in that way, became filled with pity.
स वेपमान उत्थाय मातुस्तस्याः तां कन्यामङ्कमारोप्य पर्यश्वासयत् प्रभो॥
The father of her mother then rose trembling (with rage) and placing her on his lap began to comfort her.
स तामपृच्छत् कात्स्येन व्यसनोत्पत्तिमादितः। सा च तस्मै यथावृत्तं विस्तरेण न्यवेदयत्॥
He asked her the story of her wrongs from its origin and in detail and she too submitted to him everything as it had happened in detail.
ततः स राजर्षिरभूद् दुःखशोकसमन्वितः। कार्यः च प्रतिपेदे तन्मनसा सुमहातपाः॥
Then was that royal sage filled with grief and distress and that one of great asceticism resolved, within himself, on his course of action.
अब्रवीद् वेषमानश्च कन्यामाः सुदुःखितः। मा गाः पितुर्गृहं भद्रे मातुस्ते जनको ह्यहम्॥
Trembling, he said to that distressed and sorrowful girl: "Do not go to your father's place, gentle lady. I am the father of your mother.
दुःखं छिन्द्यामहं ते वै मयि वर्तस्व पुत्रिके। पर्याप्तं ते मनो वत्से यदेवं परिशुष्यसि॥
I shall remove your sorrow, depend on me, dear daughter. You have enough of grief, child, since you are so lean.
गच्छ मद्वचनाद् रामं जामदग्न्यं तपस्विनम्। रामस्ते सुमहद् दुःखं शोकं चैवापनेष्यति॥
By my advice go to the ascetic Rama, the son of Jamadagni. Rama will remove this heavy and horrible grief of yours.
हनिष्यति रणे भीष्मं न करिष्यति चेद् वचः। तं गच्छ भार्गवश्रेष्ठं कालाग्निसमतेजसम्॥
He will slay Bhishma in battle if he does not act up to his words; go to him, that foremost of the Bhrigu race, who, in energy, is equal to the fire that rages at the time of the universal destruction.
प्रतिष्ठापयिता स त्वां समे पथि महातपाः। ततस्तु सुखरं बाष्पमुत्सृजन्ती पुनः पुनः॥
That great anchorite will place you on the even path.” Then shedding tears profusely,
अब्रवीत् पितरं मातुः सा तदा होत्रवाहनम्। अभिवादयित्वा शिरसा गमिष्ये तव शासनात्॥
And saluting with her head the father of her mother, Hotravahana, she said "By your command I shall go there.
अपि नामाद्य पश्येयमार्यं तं लोकविश्रुतम्। कथं च तीव्र दुःखं मे नाशयिष्यति भार्गवः। एतदिच्छाम्यहं ज्ञातुं यथा यास्यामि तत्र वै॥
But shall I be able to see that respected man known throughout the world and how shall he of Bhrigu's race remove my grave sorrow? I desire to know this since I am going there.