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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