Section CLXXVI

[Sanjaya continues his narration started at section CLXVI]

"Bhishma said,

'I then placed the matter before (my mother) Kali, otherwise called Gandhavati, as also all our counsellors, and also before our special and ordinary priests and then permitted, O king, the eldest of those maidens, Amva, to depart. Permitted by me, that maiden then went to the city of the ruler of the Salvas. And she had for her escort a number of old Brahmanas and was also accompanied by her own nurse

And having travelled the whole distance (between Hastinapura and Salva’s city), she approached king Salva and said these words,

'I come, O you of mighty arms, expectant of you, O high-souled one!'

Unto her, however, O king, the lord of the Salvas said with a laughter,

'O you of the fairest complexion, I no longer desire to make a wife of you who wast to be wedded to another. Therefore, O blessed one, go back thither unto Bhishma’s presence. I no longer desire you that was forcibly ravished by Bhishma. Indeed, when Bhishma, having vanquished the kings, took you away, you didst go with him cheerfully.

When having humiliated and vanquished all the kings of the earth, Bhishma took you away, I no longer desire you, O you of the fairest complexion, for a wife,—you that was to have been wedded to another! How can a king like myself, who is acquainted with all branches of knowledge and who lays down laws for the guidance of others, admit (into his abode) a woman who was to have been wedded to another? O blessed lady, go whithersoever you wishest, without spending your time in vain!'

Hearing these words of his, Amva then, O king, afflicted with the arrows of the god of love, addressed Salva, saying,

'Say not so, O lord of the earth, for it is not so! O grinder of foes, cheerful I was not when taken away by Bhishma! He took me away by force, having routed all the kings, and I was weeping all the while. An innocent girl that I am and attached to you, accept me, O lord of the Salvas! The abandonment (by one) of those that are attached (to him) is never applauded in the scriptures. Having solicited Ganga’s son who never retreats from battle, and having at last obtained his permission, I come to you! Indeed, the mighty-armed Bhishma, O king, desires me not! It has been heard by me that his action (in this matter) has been for the sake of his brother.

My two sisters Amvika and Amvalika, who were abducted with me at the same time, have, O king, been bestowed by Ganga’s son on his younger brother Vicitravirya! O lord of the Salvas, I swear, O tiger among men, by touching my own head that I have never thought of any other husband than you! I do not, O great king, come to you as one who was to have been wedded to another! I tell you the truth, O Salva, truly swearing by my soul! Take me, O you of large eyes, me—a maiden come to you of her own accord—one unbetrothed to another, one desirous of your grace!'

Although she spoke in this strain, Salva, however, O chief of the Bharatas, rejected that daughter of the ruler of Kasi, like a snake casting off his slough. Indeed, although that king was earnestly solicited with diverse expressions such as these, the lord of the Salvas still did not, O bull of the Bharata race, manifest any inclination for accepting the girl. Then the eldest daughter of the ruler of Kasi, filled with anger, and her eyes bathed in tears, said these words with a voice choked with tears and grief, 'Cast off, O king, by you, whithersoever I may go, the righteous will be my protectors, for truth is indestructible!'

"It thus, O you of Kuru’s race, that the lord of the Salvas rejected that maiden who addressed him in language such as this and who was sobbing in grief so tenderly. Go, go,—were the words that Salva said unto her repeatedly. I am in terror of Bhishma, O you of fair hips, you are Bhishma’s capture! Thus addressed by Salva destitute of foresight, that maiden issued out of his city sorrowfully and wailing like a she-osprey.'"