SECTION CLXXIX

“Akritavrana said, ’Of these two afflictions of thine, for which, O blessed lady, dost thou seek a remedy?  Tell me this.  Is it thy wish that the lord of Saubha should be urged to wed thee, the high-souled Rama will certainly urge him from desire of doing thee good?  Or, if thou wishest to behold Ganga’s son, Bhishma, defeated in battle by intelligent Rama Bhargava will gratify even that wish of thine.  Hearing what Srinjaya has to say, and what thou also, O thou of sweet smiles, may have to say, let that be settled this very day what should be done for thee.’  Hearing these words, Amva said, ’O holy one, abducted I was by Bhishma acting from ignorance, for, O regenerate one, Bhishma knew not that my heart had been given away to Salwa.  Thinking of this in thy mind, let that be resolved upon by thee which is consistent with justice, and let steps be taken for accomplishing that resolution.  Do that, O Brahmana, which is proper to be done towards either that tiger among the Kurus, viz., Bhishma, singly, or towards the ruler of the Salwas, or towards both of them!  I have told thee truly about the root of my grief.  It behoveth thee, O holy one, to do that which is consistent with reason.’

“Akritavrana said, ’This, O blessed lady, O thou of the fairest complexion, that thou sayest with eyes fixed upon virtue, is, indeed, worthy of thee.  Listen, however, to what I say!  If Ganga’s son had never taken thee to the city called after the elephant, then, O timid girl, Salwa would have, at Rama’s behest, taken thee on his head!  It is because Bhishma bore thee away by force that king Salwa’s suspicions have been awakened in respect of thee, O thou of slender-waist!  Bhishma is proud of his manliness and is crowned with success.  Therefore, thou shouldst cause thy vengeance to fall upon Bhishma (and no other)!’ Hearing these words of the sage, Amva said, ’O regenerate one, this desire hath been cherished by me also in my heart, viz., that, if possible.  Bhishma should be caused by me to be slain in battle!  O thou of mighty arms, be it Bhishma or be it king Salwa, punish that man whom thou thinkest to be guilty and through whose act I have been so miserable!’

“Bhishma continued, ’In conversation such as this, that day passed and the night also, O best of Bharata’s race, with its delicious breeze which was neither cold nor hot.  Then Rama appeared there, beaming with energy.  And that sage wearing matted-locks on his bead and attired in deer-skins was surrounded by his disciples.  And endued with magnanimous soul, he had his bow in hand.  And bearing also a sword and a battle-axe, that sinless one, O tiger among kings, approached the Srinjaya king (Hotravahana) in that forest.  And the ascetics dwelling there and that king also who was endued with great ascetic merit, beholding him, all stood up and waited, O king, with joined hands.  And that helpless