Adherence!

 

Upon his arrival at Kuru capital, Bhisma handed over Amba, Ambalika & Ambika to Satyavati. Being very pleased with her stepson, Satyavati smelled his head & due to great affection tears of joy came to her eyes. Thereafter, when the marriage day approached, Amba shyly came to Bhisma & said: I have already been secretly proposed by Salva, without my father's knowledge. Because I accepted him as my husband within my heart, I beg you to let me go, so that I can marry him

 

Bhisma consulted Satyavati & his ministers & then agreed to release Amba. Having been provided with some brahmanas & a maidservant as escorts, Amba went to the King of the Salvas, confident that he would accept her. However, when Arnba presented herself before Salva, the king laughed & said: O princess, I could never marry a girl who was already offered to another. Because you were forcibly kidnapped by Bhisma, I cannot accept you. You had better return to Hastinapur

 

Being in love with Salva, Amba pleaded: O King, you should marry me despite my having been kidnapped, for I am innocent & pure. I promise that I never thought of having any other husband than you. Despite Amba's earnest appeals, Salva rejected her, Finally,

with tears in her eyes, Amba angrily departed, saying: Because I am pure, righteousness will certainly protect me

 

Salva urged Amba to quickly depart, for he was afraid of Bhisma. As she came out of Salvas city, Amba greatly condemned herself, thinking: Oh! I was a great fool for not jumping from Bhisma's chariot as he fought with his rivals. More condemned than me, however, is Bhisma, for he has cruelly put me into this wretched condition. I must somehow or other take revenge against Kuru warrior for ruining my life

 

Amba could not think of any king capable of chastising Bhisma & so at last she decided to perform severe austerities for that purpose. Going to the asrama of some sages, Amba spent the night there. In the morning she described to them the story of her plight. One of the sages took compassion upon Amba & so inquired: My dear, what can we, who are sages living in the forest, do to help you?

 

Amba replied: O Brahmana now that I have been rejected by Salva I do not dare return to my relatives. Therefore, I have decided to renounce worldly life & dedicate myself to the performance of austerities. Please instruct me how I can live a renounced life in forest

 

The sage comforted Amba by assuring her that he & the other forest dwellers would help her. Then later, as these sages were engaged in performing their duties, they debated amongst themselves about what should be done with Amba

 

Finally, after due consideration, sages went & informed her: My dear princess, you should not attempt to live in the forest. Instead, return to your father. He is competent in deciding what should be done for your welfare & at home you can pass your time comfortably.  For a woman, and especially for a delicate girl of royal birth like you, it is very difficult to adapt to harshness of forest life.  Besides, when a woman is in difficulty, her father is her natural protector

 

We should all, either in material or renounced life, should always adhere to the dharmic injunctions & advise others too. Any deviation from them will lead to personal downfall as well as of the society we live in. When we behave as per our own whims & fancies with concocted value systems, we will be bewildered and would cause irreparable destruction

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife

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