विवाहं कारयिष्यन्तं भीष्मं काशिपतेः सुता ॥
ज्येष्ठा तासाम् इदं वाक्यम् अब्रवीद् ध सती तदा ॥
मया सौभपतिः पूर्वं मनसाभिवृतः पतिः ॥
तेन चास्मि वृता पूर्वम् एष कामश् च मे पितुः ॥
मया वरयितव्यो ऽभूच् छाल्वस् तस्मिन् स्वयंवरे ॥
एतद् विज्ञाय धर्मज्ञ ततस् त्वं धर्मम् आचर ॥
एवम् उक्तस् तया भीष्मः कन्यया विप्रसंसदि ॥
चिन्ताम् अभ्यगमद् वीरो युक्तां तस्यैव कर्मणः ॥
स विनिश्चित्य धर्मज्ञो ब्राह्मणैर् वेदपारगैः ॥
अनुजज्ञे तदा ज्येष्टाम् अम्बां काशिपतेः सुताम् ॥
अम्बिकाम्बालिके भार्ये प्रादाद् भ्रात्रे यवीयसे ॥
भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्याय विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥
vivāhaṃ kārayiṣyantaṃ bhīṣmaṃ kāśipateḥ sutā ||
jyeṣṭhā tāsām idaṃ vākyam abravīd dha satī tadā ||
mayā saubhapatiḥ pūrvaṃ manasābhivṛtaḥ patiḥ ||
tena cāsmi vṛtā pūrvam eṣa kāmaś ca me pituḥ ||
mayā varayitavyo 'bhūc chālvas tasmin svayaṃvare ||
etad vijñāya dharmajña tatas tvaṃ dharmam ācara ||
evam uktas tayā bhīṣmaḥ kanyayā viprasaṃsadi ||
cintām abhyagamad vīro yuktāṃ tasyaiva karmaṇaḥ ||
sa viniścitya dharmajño brāhmaṇair vedapāragaiḥ ||
anujajñe tadā jyeṣṭām ambāṃ kāśipateḥ sutām ||
ambikāmbālike bhārye prādād bhrātre yavīyase ||
bhīṣmo vicitravīryāya vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā ||
"[When] Bhishma was about to arrange the wedding, the eldest of the daughters of the king of Kashi, virtuous, then spoke this word: 'The lord of Saubha was formerly chosen by me in my heart as husband, and by him I was formerly chosen; such too is my father's wish. At that svayamvara I was to have chosen Shalva; knowing this, O knower of dharma, act according to dharma.' Thus addressed by that maiden, Bhishma, the hero, in the assembly of brahmins fell into thought befitting the matter. He, the knower of dharma, having deliberated with brahmins versed in the Vedas, then released the eldest, Amba, daughter of the king of Kashi. Ambika and Ambalika he gave as wives to his younger brother — Bhishma to Vichitravirya — according to the rite prescribed by scripture."
3a805dc1cd39 · प्रकाशित 12 जुल॰ 2026, 4:16:47 pm UTC
उपलब्ध भाषाएँRUENश्लोक बदलें इन कुंजियों से
Here Amba reveals that her heart is given to Shalva, and Bhishma releases her. It is significant that Bhishma, learning of her love, does not compel the maiden: he falls into deep thought and settles the matter "with brahmins versed in the Vedas," according to dharma, not by his own will or pride. Here is humility before the law: even the mighty one who won her by force bows before the truth of another's heart and before the counsel of the learned; he does not claim what he has won if dharma bids him release it. It is significant, too, that he consults the brahmins: in a difficult question of dharma the warrior does not rely on himself but seeks the guidance of those versed in scripture. Here is the right order: the kshatriya is strong, but in matters of dharma he is guided by the brahmin; strength serves the law, not the law strength. And yet let us note: in releasing Amba, Bhishma acted according to dharma, but trouble has already been sown — for Shalva, defeated and humiliated, will reject her, and the wounded Amba will turn all her wrath upon Bhishma. Thus the text shows that even a righteous decision does not always avert misfortune when another's pride and wounded heart are woven into the matter.