Ambopakhyana Parva — Rama and Bhishma in the field of Kurukshetra

Akritavrana said For which of these two sorrows do you desire a remedy, O lady. Tell me that truly, 0 child.

If in your opinion gentle lady, the lord of the Suabhas should be urged, the great-souled Rama, desirous of your good, will urge him.

Or if you desire to see the blamable Bhishma vanquished in battle by the wise Rama, he, of Bhrigu's family, will do that too.

Hearing the words of Srinjaya, and of yours, O you of beautiful smiles, let what ought to be done this very day be settled.

Amba said Led away I had been by Bhishma, but he knew not the true state of my feelings. Bhishma did not know, O Brahmana, that my mind learned towards Shalva.

Thinking of this in your mind you should settle about this; do what you think is just.

Do that wish is just and reasonable towards that best among the Kurus and to the king Shalva or to both.

The root of my distress, as it is, had now been submitted by me and it is proper that you should do in this matte what is reasonable.

Akritavrana said It is indeed praiseworthy, gentle lady, that you are speaking these words with your eye towards virtue, O you of fair complexion; listen to these words of mine.

If the blamable one had not led you to the city called after the elephant, Shalva would have accepted you, O timid lady, with his head bowed down, urged by Rama.

But since you, gentle lady, had been taken away by him after gaining a victory, O romantic lady, the king Shalva has therefore doubts in you, o you of beautiful waist.

Bhishma is proud of his bravery and success and therefore it stands to reason that your remedy lies in Bhishma.

Amba said This desire has ever obtained in my heart. O Brahmana, that I would have but Bhishma slain in battle.

Whoever is blamable, Bhishma to the king of the Shalvas, punish him who has brought about this great distress, O you of long arms.

Bhishma said The day passed away while they were conversing on this as also the night which was marked by pleasant breezes that were neither too hot nor too cold, O chief among the Bharatas.

Then did Rama come there as if blazing with energy, the anchorite having matted hairs wearing deer skin was surrounded by his disciples.

The great-souled one came, bow in hand, and holding a sword and battle-axe; and the sinless one approached that ruler of men, Srinjaya, O best among kings.

Seeing him the ascetics and the king of great asceticism stood up with clasped hands; so also did that girl.

Earnestly they adored him of the Bhrigu race, with honey and curds and being duly honored he sat down with them.

Then the two Srinjaya and the son of Jamadagna, sat together conversing on past matters.

At the end of their discourse, the royal sage in proper time said these sweet words pregnant with meaning to Rama, the foremost in the race of Bhrigu, endued with great strength.

O Rama this is my grand daughter, the daughter of the king of the Kashis, my lord; hear what she has to say and settle what can be done for her, O you skillful in deeds.

Rama said to her, “Repeat your grand story"; thereupon she said to Rama who was blazing like fire.

Saluting the holy feet of Rama with her head she touched them with her lotus like hands and stood in front of him.

Being stricken with grief she wept aloud and with her eyes bathed in tears she betook herself to the refuge of the delighter of Bhrigu's race who was of a worthy refuge.

Rama said You are the same to me, O princess, as you are to Srinjaya; speak out the grief you have in your mind, I shall act up to your words.

Amba said My lord, I be take myself now to your refuge for you are of great vows, Tell me, my lord, who am fallen into the mire of grief and liberate me from the heavy calamity.

Bhishma said Seeing her beauty and again her youthful person and her extreme delicacy of mold, Rama became engaged in deep thought.

"What shall this one say?" So thought Bhrigu; thinking thus Rama was silent for a long time filled with pity.

The lady, of sweet smiles being again asked to recite her story, said everything as had happened to him of Bhrigu's race.

The son of Jamadagni too hearing those words of the princess first settled as to what he should do and then said to her of beautiful hips.

Rama said O beautiful lady, I shall send words to that foremost among the Kurus, Bhishma, and that ruler among men. Hearing them will do, my bidding.

If the son of Jahnavi does not do what I say then shall I consume him in battle, O gentle lady, along with his ministers, by the blaze of my weapons.

If, O princess, you are not of that opinion, I shall urge that hero, the king of the Shalvas, to the present matter.

Amba said O delighter of Bhrigu's race, I had been dismissed by Bhishma as soon as he heard that my mind already had been to the king of the Shalvas.

Approaching then the king of Saubha I addressed him in improper words, but he did not accept me being suspicious of my character.

Thinking on all this, it is proper should think of the means of remedying this by your own knowledge, O delighter of Bhrigu's that you race.

The root of this distress of mine is Bhishma of great vows, since by him was I brought under subjection taking me up by force.

Slay Bhishma, O you of long arms, for it is by his doings that I am fallen into such distress, O you foremost among the race of Bhrigu, and that I continue in this growing distress.

He is covetous, mean, spirited, and boastful of success, O you of Bhrigu's race; therefore is it reasonable that you should take revenge on him, O sinless one.

When I was being taken away by Bharata, my lord, I made this resolution in my heart, namely, that I should cause this one of great vows to be slain.

Therefore do you fulfill this desire of mine, O sinless Rama; slay Bhishma, O you of long arms, as Purandara slew Vritra.