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.
किं नु निःक्षत्रियो लोको यत्रानाथोऽवसीदति। समागम्य तु राजानो मयोक्ता राजसत्तमाः
Is the world now without kshatriyas, where the helpless are abandoned? Yet, the assembled kings, the foremost among rulers, I addressed.
शृण्वन्तु सर्वे राजानो मयोक्तं राजसत्तमाः। इक्ष्वाकूणां तु ये वृद्धाः पाञ्चालानां च ये वराः
Let all the kings, the best among rulers, hear what I say—the elders of the Ikshvakus and the foremost of the Panchalas.
त्वत्प्रसादाद्विवाहेऽस्मिन्मा धर्मो मा पराजयेत्। प्रसीद यज्ञसेनेह गतिर्मे भव सोमक
By your favor in this marriage, may righteousness not be defeated; be gracious, Yajnasena, let my course be with you, O Somaka.
जानामि त्वां बोधयामि राजपुत्रि विशेषतः। यथाशक्ति यथाधर्मं बलं संधारयाम्यहम्
I know you, princess, and I especially instruct you: to the best of my ability and according to righteousness, I maintain my strength.
अन्यस्मात्पार्थिवाद्यत्ते भयं स्यात्पार्थिवात्मजे। तस्यापनयने हेतुं संविधातुमहं प्रभुः
If you fear any other king, O princess, I have the power to remove the cause of that fear.
नहि शान्तनवस्याहं महास्त्रस्य प्रहारिणः। ईश्वरः क्षत्रियाणां हि बलं धर्मोऽनुवर्तते
I am not the master over Shantanu's son, wielder of mighty weapons; for among kshatriyas, strength follows righteousness.
सा साधु व्रज कल्याणि न मां भीष्मो दहेद्बलात्। न प्रत्यगृह्णंस्ते सर्वे किमित्येव न वेद्म्यहम्
So go, O blessed one, for Bhishma will not burn me by force; I did not accept you—all of them know, but I do not know why.
इत्युक्ता स्रजमासज्य द्वारि राज्ञो व्यपाद्रवत्
Thus addressed, she placed the garland and fled from the king's doorway.
व्युदस्तां सर्वलोकेषु तपसा संशितव्रताम्। तामन्वगच्छद्द्रुपदः सान्त्वं जल्पन्पुनः पुनः
Renowned in all worlds for her austerity and firm vows, Drupada followed her, repeatedly offering words of consolation.
स्रजं गृहाण कल्याणि न नो वैरं प्रसञ्जय
Take the garland, O blessed one, do not incite enmity with us.