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.
एषा पुष्करिणी दिव्या यथावत्समुपस्थिता। अम्बे त्वच्छोकशमनी माला भुवि भविष्यति
This divine lotus pond has appeared as it should. Amba, this garland will be on earth to relieve your sorrow.
एतां चैव मया दत्तां मालां यो धारयिष्यति। सोऽस्य भीष्मस्य निधने कारणं वै भविष्यति
Whoever wears this garland, which I have given, will be the cause of Bhishma's death.
अन्यपूर्वेति मां साल्वो नाभिनन्दति बालिशः। साहं धर्माच्च कामाच्च विहीना शोकधारिणी
Salva, foolish, does not accept me because of my prior attachment to another. I am bereft of righteousness and desire, bearing sorrow.
अपतिः क्षत्रियान्सर्वानाक्रन्दामि समन्ततः। इयं वः क्षत्रिया माला या भीष्मं निहनिष्यति
Without a husband, I cry out to all the Kshatriyas everywhere. This garland of yours, O Kshatriyas, will slay Bhishma.
अहं च भार्या तस्य स्यां यो भीष्मं घातयिष्यति। तस्याश्चङ्क्रम्यमाणायाः समाः पञ्च गताः पराः
I will be the wife of the one who kills Bhishma. Five more years passed for her as she wandered.
नाभवच्छरणं कश्चित्क्षत्रियो भीष्मजाद्भयात्। अगच्छत्सोमकं साऽम्बा पाञ्चालेषु यशस्विनम्
No Kshatriya gave her refuge, fearing Bhishma. Amba went to the renowned Somaka among the Panchalas.
सत्यसन्धं महेष्वासं सत्यधर्मपरायणम्। सा सभाद्वारमागम्य पाञ्चालैरभिरक्षितम्
She came to the assembly doorway, guarded by the Panchalas, where stood the steadfast, great-armed, ever-truthful devotee of righteousness.
पाञ्चालराजमाक्रन्दत्प्रगृह्य सुभुजा भुजौ। भीष्मेण हन्यमानां मां मज्जन्तीमिव च ह्रदे
The king of the Panchalas cried out, grasping me with his strong arms, as Bhishma struck me down, as if I were sinking in a deep pool.
यज्ञसेनाभिधावेह पाणिमालम्ब्य चोद्धर। तेन मे सर्वधर्माश्च रतिभोगाश्च केवलाः
Yajnasena, come here, take my hand and lift me up; by this, all my duties and pleasures alone are preserved.
उभौ च लोकौ कीर्तिश्च समूलौ सफलौ हृतौ। ***न्त्येवं न विन्दामि राजन्यं शरणं क्वचित्
Both worlds, and my fame, with their roots and fruits, have been seized; thus, I find no kshatriya protector anywhere.