The sages were seated around Brahmarishi Akritavran, they conversed about delightful subjects, beautiful and celestial ones. Once they were finished talking and happy, Rajarshi Hotravahan approached the disciple of Parshuram, Amba stood behind him, hopefully gazing at them both.
"Akritavran, Jamdagneya kaha milenge ? Kya woh abhi bhi Mahendra parvat par hai ?" Hotravahan asked.
"Rajan, Jamdagneya sadev aapki baat karte hai. Aur woh yahi aane wale hai. Kuch hi samaye pashchat aapki unse bhet ho jayegi." The Brahmarishi said.
He then glanced at the distressed Amba, "Maharaj, yeh kanya kaun hai ? Kiski hai ? Aapke saath kya sambandh hai iska ? Mai yeh jaanne hetu icchuk hu."
"Yeh meri putri ki putri hai, Brahmarishi. Mai iska Matamah hu. Amba naam hai, aur yeh Kashi-naresh ki Jyesht putri hai. Par apne durbhagya se pidit hai." Hotravahan said.
He began to tell Akritavran, the entire tale of Amba's grief and misfortune. Hearing it, the Brahmarishi looked at the maiden with pity.
Amba joined her hands and bowed her head, "Jaisa Nanashree ne bataya, mere saath wahi sab huya hai. Apmaan ke bhaye se mai apne nagar nahi lautna chaahti. Brahman-shresht, mai wahi karungi jo Parshuram mujhse karne ko kahenge."
"Kanya, tumhare samaksh 2 kasht hai. Kiska nivaran chaahti ho ? Yadi tum chaahti ho ki Soubha-naresh tumhe swikar karle, toh Jamdagneya unse baat karenge. Aur yadi tumhari iccha hai ki Bhishm yudh mei parajit ho, toh Parshuram yeh bhi tumhare liye karenge." Akritavran said.
"Brahmarishi, Bhishm ne jab mera aur meri beheno ka haran kiya tab woh iss baat ko nahi jaante the ki mai Shalva se prem karti hu. Koi nirnaye lene se poorva aapko yeh baat jaanni chahiye. Ab aap nirnaye lijiye ki dand kisko milna chahiye, Bhishm ko ya Shalva ko." Amba said.
Akritavran thought for a moment, and then spoke, "Yadi Gangeya tumhe Hastinapur na leke jaate, toh Jamdagneya ke kehne par Shalva tumhe sar jhuka ke swikar kar sakta tha. Parantu chuki Shantanu ke putra ne balpoorvak tumhara haran kar tumhe jeeta hai, Soubha-naresh ko tum par sandeh hai. Apne purushatva aur vijay ke mad mei Bhishm dheet ho chuka hai. Meri drishti mei, dand Ganga ke putra ko hi milna chahiye."
Amba took a deep breath, clenching her fists she said, "Brahman devta, mere hridaye mei ek kaamna hai ki Bhishm ka vadh yudhbhoomi mei mere haatho ho. Brahmarishi, mere dukh ka karan jo bhi hai, chaahe Shalva ya Bhishm, uska daman kijiye."
While they were conversing in this way, the day passed. Night had descended, cool breeze soothing to the mind pervaded the atmosphere, but it wasn't able to calm Amba down.
And then just like how sun appears after a dark night, appeared Parshuram, the son of Jamdagni, clad in bark with matted hair. He held a bow in one hand, and the infamous Vidyudabhi axe in another, a sword dangled from his waist. He was surrounded by his disciples.
He approached his friend, King Hotravahan. On seeing him, all the ascetics and the immensely ascetic king arose, hands joined in salutation. So did Amba.
They eagerly honoured Bhargav-Ram with madhuparka. Having been shown homage, he seated himself among them. Jamadagni’s son and the king of Srinjaya, conversed about earlier times.
When this conversation was over, in due course of time, Hotravahan said to Parshuram, "Ram, yeh meri putri ki putri hai, Kashi-naresh ki Jyesht kanya hai, Amba. Kripiya iski peeda sun, sahi maar nikaliye."
Parshuram looked at Amba, his gaze was piercing but still had warmth in them, "Apna kasht batao." He told.
Amba approached him and lowered her head at his feet. She touched them with hands that were like the petals of lotuses and stood before him. Her eyes were filled with tears and she wept in grief.
She sought refuge with the descendant of the Bhrigu lineage, the one who is everyone’s refuge.
"Rajkumari, tum mere liye Hotravahan jaisi ho. Apne man ka dukh batao, aur mai wahi karunga jo tum kahogi." Parshuram said.
"Bhagwan, mai peedao ke sagar mei doobi jaa rahi hu. Mujhe sharan dijiye, mera uddhar kijiye, prabhu." She sobbed.
Parshuram saw her beauty, her youthful age and her extremely delicate form and began to think what she was going to say.
Flooded by compassion, he thought in this fashion for a long time.
"Batao mujhe." Parshuram said in a gentle tone.
She told Bhargav-Ram everything, exactly as it had happened. After having heard the words of the princess, Jamadagni’s son was quick to make up his mind.
"Bhagyavati, Bhishm mera shishya hai. Mai use sandesh awashya bhejunga. Mere dharmparayan shabd sun, woh wahi karega jo mai kahunga. Aur yadi tum chaaho, toh mai Shalva ko bhi sahi maarg par laa dunga." Parshuram said.
Amba replied, "Mere sabhi dukho ka karan Bhishm hai. Usi ne balpoorvak mera haran kiya tha. Uske karan Shalva ne mujhe swikar nahi kiya. Gangeya ke karan hi mai dar-dar bhatak rahi hu iss dasha mei. Apne vijay ke karan woh dhrisht ho chuka hai. Mera pratishodh lijiye prabhu. Uchit yahi hoga ki aap Bhishm ka vadh karde ! Jab usne mera haran kiya, tab maine man mei uske mrityu ka sankalp liya tha. Iss liye Parshuram, aap meri yeh kaamna purn kijiye aur Bhishm ka vadh kijiye jis prakar Indra ne Vritra ka vadh Kiya tha."
Having been thus asked to kill Bhishma, Parshuramspoke to the weeping maiden, who kept urging him repeatedly, "Kanya, mai keval brahmgyaaniyo ke hit hetu shashtra uthata hu. Dono Bhishm aur Shalva mera kaha maanenge, mai tumhari liye unse baat kar sakta hu. Parantu jab tak Brahman na kahe, mai shashtra nahi utha sakta. Yeh mera pran hai."
"Nahi prabhu, aapko Bhishm ka vadh karna hi hoga !" Amba urged sobbing.
"Kashikanya, mere kehne par Bhishm apna sheesh tumhare charano mei rakh dega. Mai itna kar sakta hu." Parshuram said.
"Nahi Bhagwan, mujhe Bhishm ki kshama nahi chahiye. Aapko uska vadh karna hi hoga." Amba said.
While Parshuram and Amba were arguing in this way, Akritavrana interrupted and said, "Gurudev, aapko Bhishm ka vadh kar dena chahiye. Yudh ke awahan pe, Bhishm ya toh aapse parajit ho jaayega, ya toh aapki kahi baat maan lega. Tab iss kanya ka mantavya purn ho jayega. Aap kabhi apne sharan mei aaye bhayebhit vyakti ka tyaag nahi karte, bhale sampurn kshatriya varn aapke samaksh aapke virudh khada ho jaaye. Aapne aise dhrisht kshatriyo ka vadh karne ka pran liya hai. Iss liye, Bhishm se yudh kare aur use parajit kare !"
"Akritavran, mujhe apna vachan smaran hai. Yadi saam se Bhishm maan jaaye, toh uchit hai. Anyatha mai dand ka prayog karunga aur uss abhimaani ka vadh kardunga."
Having spoken in this way, Parshuram arose, together with those who knew about the brahma, having made up his mind to leave.
□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
A/N
Oooooh ! A war between Parshuram ji and Bhishm 🌝
YOU ARE READING
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...
