The Story of Amba

The king of Kashi held a swayamvar for his three daughters, Amba, Ambika and Ambalika. Bhishma arrived and, in front of everyone, placed all three princesses in his chariot to take them as brides for Vichitravirya. The assembled kings tried to stop him, but Bhishma defeated them all single-handed. King Shalva also gave chase, and he too was beaten and turned back.

When they reached Hastinapur, the eldest princess, Amba, said to Bhishma, 'In my heart I had already chosen King Shalva as my husband. Marrying a woman whose heart belongs to another is not dharma.' Bhishma agreed and sent her to Shalva with honour. Ambika and Ambalika were married to Vichitravirya.

But Shalva rejected Amba. 'Bhishma won you and carried you off. I will not accept you now.' Amba went back to Bhishma and said, 'Because of you my life is ruined. Now you must marry me.' Bhishma replied, 'I cannot break my vow.' Amba now belonged nowhere.

Seeking justice, Amba asked Parashuram, Bhishma's own teacher, for help. Parashuram ordered Bhishma to marry her. Bhishma bowed to his teacher but would not give up his vow. Teacher and student fought a terrible battle at Kurukshetra for twenty-three days. In the end the gods and the ancestors stepped in and stopped it. Neither side lost.

Now Amba's mind was fixed on one thing only: Bhishma's end. She performed fierce penance. Lord Shiva was pleased and granted her a boon: 'In your next life you will be the cause of Bhishma's death.' Amba entered the fire and was reborn in the house of King Drupada as Shikhandi. Years later, it was Shikhandi who stood before Bhishma at Kurukshetra.