Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c13.87.2

v2.c13.87.2

His wish was now to clear everything up through a kindly message to Bhīshma, or to the Çalva, while Ambā declared that the Çalva had sent her away through distrust in her purity; Paraçurāma must make away with Bhīshma, the root of her unhappiness. He reminded her that he would only take up arms on behalf of the Brahmans. But she always came back to insisting that he must kill Bhīshma, the cause of all her woes. Then his comrade reminded him that he must help her that asks for protection, and that, moreover, he was bound by an earlier vow, and therefore he must fight in this case. So Rāma went to Kurukshetra with his band of disciples and the maiden, and from there a further couple of days' journey on, and solemnly asked Bhīshma, who came to meet him at the frontier respectfully : “ Bhīshma, what was it that made thee carry off the daughter of the king of Kāçi that time against her will, and then let her go? For now the glorious maid is left through thee bereft of her rights (marriage); for who could here on earth approach her, whom thou, a stranger, hast touched? The Çālva has rejected her, because thou didst carry her away, O Bharata. Therefore do thou at my bidding take her back again. This king's daughter, O tiger among men, must be given her rights. It is not seemly in thee to hold kings to scorn and insult.” But Bhīshma made answer: “I could in no wise give her to my brother, O Brahman.