Amba went to the hermitages of great-souled ascetics who were sacred in their conduct. Surrounded by those thousands of ascetics, she spent a night there and told them everything about herself and the details of what had happened, the abduction, the release and the abandonment by Shalva.
The Brahmanas consoled her. Among those sinless ascetics, there was one named Shaikhavatya, a preceptor in the sacred texts and in the aranyakas.
He spoke to Amba gently, "Bhagyavati, tumhare saath jo huya, woh accha nahi tha. Batao, hum Brahman tumhare liye kya kar sakte hai ?"
"Mujhe par kripa drishti daliye. Meri iccha tapasya karne ki hai. Apni murkhta ke karan, maine pichle janmo mei kayi paap kiye honge, ussi ka yeh fal hai. Mai apne parijano ke ghar nahi jana chaahti, mera parityaag ho gaya hai. Mai dukhi hu. Shalva ne mere saath anyaye kiya hai. Aap sabhi, devtulya mahatma, mera maarg-darshan kare." Amba said with joined hands.
And so she wept, Shaikhavatya consoled her together with the other Brahmanas.
"Chinta mat karo, hum awashya woh karenge jo sahi hoga." They comforted her.
The ascetics then went on to perform their daily rituals, wondering amongst themselves what the right course of action should be.
Some thought they should send Amba back to her parents, others thought Bhishm should be censured. Some thought that they should bring in Shalva and try to convince him to accept the maiden, others said no to this because Amba had already been rejected by him.
After some time they all went back to Amba.
"Kanya, tumhe apne Rajya laut jana chahiye. Aage jo karna hoga, Kashi-naresh samjhenge. Tum gunwati ho, apne Pita ke yaha sukh se rahogi." One of them said.
Another wise Brahman said, "Ek Arya stree ke liye, uska pati aur uska pita hi uske liye sharan hota hai. Jab sab accha ho, toh pati sharan hota hai. Jab aapda aaye toh Pita sharan hota hai."
"Kumari, idhar udhar bhatakna, tum jaise komal nari hetu kathin aur kashtdayak hoga. Aur humare saath ashram mei reh, tumhare charitra pe kalank lag sakta hai. Parantu, pita ke ghar rehne mei koi kalank nahi." Other Brahmans also tried to persuade her.
Amba shook her head, "Mai apne pita ke ghar nahi jaa sakti. Isme koi sandeh nahi ki mere parivar jan, mera anadar karenge. Mai Kashi nahi lautungi. Mujhse apna aur apmaan saha nahi jaayega."
She was right in this matter, if she returns to Kashi, her relatives would spare no chance to disrespect her. The Brahmanas began to reflect upon this.
"Sabhi Brahmano ko mera pranaam !" A deep voice greeted.
"Rajarshi Hotravahan ? Padhariye." The Brahmanas smiled.
Amba turned her head, and her eyes widened in recognition, and seeing her the aged King of Srinjaya too was surprised.
"Nanashree ?" She muttered.
"Amba tum yaha kaise ?" Hotravahan asked.
At that she lowered her gaze, "Pehle Brahman Jan aapka sadkaar karle, fir batati hu."
All the ascetics honoured the king. They worshipped and welcomed him and offered him a seat and water. After he had seated himself and had rested, he placed his granddaughter on his lap and comforted her.
"Kaho Amba, kya kasht hai tumhe ?" He asked.
In detail, she told him exactly what had happened. Then the rajarshi was overcome by great grief and misery. Hotravahan thought in his mind about what should be done next.
He trembled and in great grief, told the distressed maiden, "Bhagyavati, apne Pita ke ghar mat jaao. Mai tumhara Matamah hu, mai tumhe ashraye dunga. Mai tumhare sabhi dukho ka naash karunga, putri."
Caressing her face, he said, "Meri baat dhyaan se suno. Jamdagni ke putra, Parshuram ke paas jaao. Woh tumhari dukh aur peedao ka annt awashya karenge. Yadi Bhishm unki baat na maane, toh Bhargav-Ram uska vadh awashya kar denge."
Amba repeatedly shed many tears. She
lowered her head before Hotravahana, her mother’s father.
"Parantu, woh mujhe kaha milenge ? Aur woh meri sahayata kaise karenge ?" She asked.
"Mahendra Parvat ke jungle mei Jamdagneya nivas karte hai. Unke paas jaa kar maine jo kaha woh kehna. Mera naam sunte hi, woh tumhari sahayata awashya karenge. Parshuram mere mitra aur hitkaari hai. Woh tumhara uddhar awashya karenge." Hotravahan said.
While he was speaking to his granddaughter in this way, a sagely man named Akritavran, appeared. Seeing him, a Brahmarishi, all the sages arose in their thousands and so did King Hotravahan.
"Parshuram ki baat kar rahe the, aur unke hi shishya yaha aagaye." The king of Srinjaya smiled.
Amba looked at her grandfather and then back at Akritavran, who was being honoured and welcomed by the sages.
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A/N
Aise toh Amba is better than what was shown in Star Plus Mahabharat serial.... Yet what always bothered me was that, instead of punishing Shalva, she chose to punish Bhishm.
Yes, Bhishm was wrong, but that doesn't mean Shalva should be left out. Cause though Bhishm kidnapped her along with her sisters, he allowed her to go. It was Shalva who rejected her.
Punishment dena hai toh dono ko do, sirf ek ko kyu ?
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HARIHARESHWARI 14 : CHANDRA CHAYAYAM SINGHASANAM
Historical FictionThe stage is set for another leela of Bhagwaan Vishnu, where all the gods and goddesses play a significant role. Now starts the saga where heartbreaking curses, graceful boons and divine mercy combine to write a history to be remembered through the...
