Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c13.87.1

v2.c13.87.1

she would be scorned there; she wished, she said, to lead an ascetic life, so that so evil a fate should not be thrust on her again in another life.¹ Then her mother's father happened to come thither, the royal Ṛiṣi, Hotravāhana. When he had heard her tale, and learned who she was he spoke trembling and sorrowful to the tortured maiden: "Go not to thy father's house. I am thy mother's father. I will turn away thy unhappiness. Stay by me, my child, let thy desire rest² thus to pine away." He advised her now to seek out his friend Paraçurāma, mighty in arms and penance, and to make request of him; he would slay Bhīshma, if he did not do as she said, and would set her free from her sorrow. Meanwhile, a comrade of Paraçurāma came into the penitential forest. The matter was put before him, and Ambā declared that Bhīshma had not known that she loved the king of the Çalvas, otherwise he would not have carried her off; but that the ascetic must decide. He held that Bhīshma was the cause of it all; for had he left her alone, then the Çalva would have been content with her. Ambā spoke: "In my heart also does this wish ever lie, whether I could not slay Bhīshma. Him on whom thou layest the blame, him do thou chastise, for I have come because of him into deep suffering." Then later came Rāma himself; full of pity and love he hearkened to the lovely, tender young granddaughter of his friend Hotravāhana, who was begging help of him in tears.