विनिश्चित्य स धर्मज्ञो ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः। अनुजज्ञे तदा ज्येष्ठामम्बां काशिपतेः सुताम्
Having carefully considered, he who knows righteousness, together with Brahmins accomplished in the Vedas, then consented to the eldest daughter of the King of Kashi.
अम्बिकाम्बालिके भार्ये प्रादाद्भ्रात्रे यवीयसे। भीष्मो विचित्रवीर्याय विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
Bhishma gave Ambika and Ambalika, as wives, to his younger brother Vichitravirya, performing the act as prescribed by law.
तयोः पाणी गृहीत्वा तु रूपयौवनदर्पितः। विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा नाम्बामैच्छत्कथंचन
Vichitravirya, filled with pride in his beauty and youth, took the hands of the two, but though righteous, he did not desire Amba in any way.
पापस्य फलमेवैष कामोऽसाधुर्निरर्थकः। परतन्त्रोपभोगो मामार्य नाऽऽयोक्तुमर्हसि
This is only the fruit of sin; desire that is improper is futile. Enjoyment under another's control, noble one, you ought not to urge upon me.
प्रातिष्ठच्छान्तनोर्वंशस्तात यस्य त्वमन्वयः। अकामवृत्तो धर्मात्मन्साधु मन्ये मतं तव
The line of Shantanu, whose descendant you are, continues, father. Acting without desire, righteous one, I consider your view to be good.
इत्युक्त्वाम्बां समालोक्य विधिवद्वाक्यमब्रवीत्। विसृष्टा ह्यसि गच्छ त्वं यथाकाममनिन्दिते
Having spoken thus, he looked at Amba and addressed her with words in accordance with law: 'You are released; go, blameless one, wherever you wish.'
नानियोज्ये समर्थोऽहं नियोक्तुं भ्रातरं प्रियम्। अन्यबावगतां चापि को नारीं वासयेद्गृहे
I am not able to command my dear brother against his will, nor would anyone keep in his house a woman who desires another.
अतस्त्वां न नियोक्ष्यामि अन्यकामासि गम्यताम्। अहमप्यूर्ध्वरेता वै निवृत्तो दारकर्मणि
Therefore, I will not appoint you; you desire another—go. I too am one who has taken the vow of celibacy, withdrawn from the duties of marriage.
इत्युक्ता सा गता तत्र सखीभिः परिवारिता
Thus addressed, she departed from there, surrounded by her companions.
निर्दिष्टा हि शनै राजन्साल्वराजपुरं प्रति। अथाम्बा साल्वंमागम्य साऽब्रवीत्प्रतिपूज्य तं
Directed thus, O King, she slowly made her way toward the city of the King of Salva. Then Amba, having reached Salva, honored him and spoke.
पुरा निर्दिष्टभावा त्वामागतास्मि वरानन। देवव्रतं समुत्सृज्य सानुजं भरतर्षभम्
Once chosen for you, I have come, O noble-faced one, abandoning Devavrata and his younger brother, the bull among the Bharatas.
प्रतिगृह्णीष्व भद्रं ते विधिवन्मां समुद्यताम्
Accept me, may good be yours, as I come to you in accordance with law.
तयैवमुक्तः साल्वोपि प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत्। निर्जिताऽसीह भीष्मेण मां विनिर्जित्य राजसु
Thus addressed, Salva laughed and said: 'Here, you were conquered by Bhishma, who defeated me among the kings.'
अन्येन निर्जितां भद्रे विसृष्टां तेन चालयात्। न गृह्णामि वरारोहे तत्र चैव तु गम्यताम्
O beautiful one, conquered by another and released by him, I do not accept you; therefore, go there.
इत्युक्ता सा समागम्य कुरुराज्यमनुत्तमम्। अम्बाब्रवीत्ततो भीष्मं त्वयाऽहं सहसा हृता
Thus addressed, she returned to the unrivaled kingdom of the Kurus. Then Amba said to Bhishma: 'I was seized by you by force.'
क्षत्रधर्ममवेक्षस्व त्वं भर्ता मम धर्मतः। यां यः स्वयंवरे कन्यां निर्जयेच्छौर्यसंपदा
Consider the duty of a kshatriya: by law, you are my husband. Whichever man wins a maiden at her svayamvara by his valor—
राज्ञः सर्वान्विनिर्जित्य स तामुद्वाहयेद्ध्रुवम्। अतस्त्वमेव भर्ता मे त्वयाऽहं निर्जिता यतः
Having defeated all the kings, he must certainly marry her. Therefore, you alone are my husband, for I was conquered by you.
तस्माद्वहस्व मां भीष्म निर्जितां संसदि त्वया। ऊर्ध्वरेता ह्यहमिति प्रत्युवाच पुनःपुनः
Therefore, Bhishma, marry me, whom you have conquered in the assembly. 'I am vowed to celibacy,' he replied again and again.
भीष्मं सा चाब्रवीदम्बा यथाजैषीस्तथा कुरु। एवमन्वगमद्भीष्मं षट्समाः पुष्करेक्षणा
Amba spoke to Bhishma, 'Do as you have promised.' Thus, Bhishma was followed by the lotus-eyed woman for six years.
ऊर्ध्वरेतास्त्वहं भद्रे विवाहविमुखोऽभवम्। तमेव साल्वं गच्छ त्वं यः पुरा मनसा वृतः
I have become one who maintains celibacy, O gentle lady, and have turned away from marriage. Go to Salva, whom you had previously chosen in your heart.
अन्यसक्तं किमर्थं त्वमात्मानमवदः पुरा। अन्यसक्तां वधूं कन्यां वासयेत्स्वगृहे न हि
Why did you declare yourself for another before, being attached elsewhere? One should not house a bride or maiden who is devoted to another.
नाहमुद्वाहयिष्ये त्वां मम भ्रात्रे यवीयसे। विचित्रवीर्याय शुभे यथेष्टं गम्यतामिति
I will not marry you, nor will I give you to my younger brother, Vichitravirya. O auspicious one, go wherever you wish.
भूयः साल्वं समभ्येत्य राजन्गृह्णीष्व मामिति। नाहं गृह्णाम्यन्यजितामिति साल्वनिराकृता
Again approaching Salva, she said, 'O king, accept me.' He replied, 'I do not accept one won by another,' thus Salva rejected her.
ऊर्ध्वरेतास्त्वहमिति भीष्मेण च निराकृता। अम्बा भीष्मं पुनः साल्वं भीष्मं साल्वं पुनः पुनः
Bhishma, declaring himself celibate, rejected her; Amba went again and again to Bhishma and Salva, Bhishma and Salva.
गमनागमनेनैवमनैषीत्षट् समा नृप। अश्रुभिर्भूमिमुक्षन्ती शोचन्ती सा मनस्विनी
By coming and going in this way, O king, she spent six years, shedding tears upon the ground, grieving, that noble-minded woman.
पीनोन्नतकुचद्वन्द्वा विशालजघनेक्षणा। श्रोणीभरालसगमा राकाचन्द्रनिभानना
With full, high breasts, broad hips, and wide eyes, her gait heavy from the weight of her hips, her face shining like the full moon.
वर्षत्कादम्बिनीमूर्ध्नि स्फुरन्ती चञ्चलेव सा। सा ततो द्वादश समा बाहुदामभितो नदीम्। पार्श्वे हिमवतो रम्ये तपो घोरं समाददे
Her hair, like a kadamba tree in the rain, trembled as if restless. Then, for twelve years, she undertook severe austerity by the river, near the beautiful Himalayas.
संक्षिप्तकरणा तत्र तप आस्थाय सुव्रता। पादाङ्गुष्ठेन साऽतिष्ठदकम्पन्त ततः सुराः
Restraining her actions, steadfast in vows, she stood on her big toe; the gods trembled at this.
तस्यास्तत्तु तपो दृष्ट्वा सुराणां क्षोभकारकम्। विस्मितश्चैव हृष्टश्च तस्यानुग्रहबुद्धिमान्
Seeing her austerity, which disturbed the gods, one among them, amazed and delighted, resolved to grant her favor.
अनन्तसेनो भगवान्कुमारो वरदः प्रभुः। मानयन्राजपुत्रीं तां ददौ तस्यै शुभां स्रजम्
Anantasena, the blessed Kumara, lord and granter of boons, honored the princess and gave her a beautiful garland.