M113 - Amba's Act of Vengeance towards Bhishma
While Bhishma making preparations for his brother wedding. The eldest princess of kashi, Amba summoned him to her presence and said, "O Prince! You have carried away the three of us by force from our father's kingdom and are trying to marry us to your brother. However, even before the Swayamvara, I was in love with Salya, king of Saubha, whose life you spared in battle. I had fully resolved to choose him as my husband in the Swayamvara. Knowing this, and the path of Dharma, you will realize that I cannot marry your brother. Please do what you feel is right."
Bhishma saw the force of her argument. He said, "You should have made this clear when I abducted you! However, it does not matter much. I will make arrangements for you to be escorted to the kingdom of Salya. I will dower you like I would have for a sister of mine. Have no fear, you will be able to marry Salya."
In accordance with his promise, Bhishma sent Amba to the court of Salya, escorted by his chief minister and accompanied by many riches. When the entourage reached Salya, it suffered an unexpected check. Salya refused to marry Amba, as she had been won from him in fair combat by Bhishma. He said, "O Princess. Bhishma, the illustrious son of Shantanu won you from me in fair combat. He has defeated me in the presence of my peers. After this shame, I cannot marry you. Return to Bhishma and ask him for a solution for this dilama."
Heart broken, Amba returned to Hastinapura, the capital of the Kurus. Since she had already chosen Salya as her husband, Vichitraveerya also refused to marry her. In desperation, she beseeched Bhishma to marry her as no one else would. She accused him of forcing her to such a desperate measure. She even persuaded Satyavati to try and force Bhishma into marrying her. Bhishma sympathized with her plight, but would not break his vow upon any account.
Amba was filled with hatred for Bhishma, as the cause of ruining her life. She sought a champion to defeat Bhishma in battle and either force him to marry her or failing that, kill him. Since everyone knew Bhishma's prowess as a warrior, no one would come forth to espouse her cause. At last, she managed to convince Parashurama, the Guru of Bhishma to try and persuade the Kuru prince. Parashurama tried his best to convince Bhishma, but was unable to persuade him. He then challenged Bhishma to battle. The combat raged for a long time. In the end, Parashurama was forced to yield. He said to Amba, "My child, I tried my best, but my disciple is far too great a warrior to be defeated by me. I advise you to forget your vengeance, marry someone else and be happy."
However, Amba would not take this advice. Upon consideration, she decided that only the Gods can grant a boon for her that would lead to Bhishma's death. She went away to the forest and indulged in a terrible penance to Karthikeya (Skanda), the command-in-chief of the Deva army, the son of Lord Shiva. At last Karthikeya appeared in front of her and gave her a garland of flowers, saying that who ever wears this garland would be able to slay Bhishma. Much encouraged, Amba again tried to find a champion who would wear this garland and slay Bhishma. Once again, she found that no one would even try. She wandered from kingdom to kingdom in her quest. At last, she visited the king Drupada, the king of the Panchalas. He was renowned as a great warrior and also happened to be her kinsman. When she found that even he was unwilling, she was enraged and threw away the garland in the court. No one would even dare to touch the garland. The king took the garland with the help of a stick and tossed it on a tree in his garden. It lay there for a long time until someone did pick it up and wear the garland. However, this was not going to happen for a very many years.
Amba then once again performed a tough penance, this time beseeching Shiva. The lord appeared before her and granted her the boon that she would be able to slay Bhishma in her next birth. Amba could not wait for that day to arrive. She lit a pyre and immolated herself.
Bhishma saw the force of her argument. He said, "You should have made this clear when I abducted you! However, it does not matter much. I will make arrangements for you to be escorted to the kingdom of Salya. I will dower you like I would have for a sister of mine. Have no fear, you will be able to marry Salya."
In accordance with his promise, Bhishma sent Amba to the court of Salya, escorted by his chief minister and accompanied by many riches. When the entourage reached Salya, it suffered an unexpected check. Salya refused to marry Amba, as she had been won from him in fair combat by Bhishma. He said, "O Princess. Bhishma, the illustrious son of Shantanu won you from me in fair combat. He has defeated me in the presence of my peers. After this shame, I cannot marry you. Return to Bhishma and ask him for a solution for this dilama."
Heart broken, Amba returned to Hastinapura, the capital of the Kurus. Since she had already chosen Salya as her husband, Vichitraveerya also refused to marry her. In desperation, she beseeched Bhishma to marry her as no one else would. She accused him of forcing her to such a desperate measure. She even persuaded Satyavati to try and force Bhishma into marrying her. Bhishma sympathized with her plight, but would not break his vow upon any account.
Amba was filled with hatred for Bhishma, as the cause of ruining her life. She sought a champion to defeat Bhishma in battle and either force him to marry her or failing that, kill him. Since everyone knew Bhishma's prowess as a warrior, no one would come forth to espouse her cause. At last, she managed to convince Parashurama, the Guru of Bhishma to try and persuade the Kuru prince. Parashurama tried his best to convince Bhishma, but was unable to persuade him. He then challenged Bhishma to battle. The combat raged for a long time. In the end, Parashurama was forced to yield. He said to Amba, "My child, I tried my best, but my disciple is far too great a warrior to be defeated by me. I advise you to forget your vengeance, marry someone else and be happy."
However, Amba would not take this advice. Upon consideration, she decided that only the Gods can grant a boon for her that would lead to Bhishma's death. She went away to the forest and indulged in a terrible penance to Karthikeya (Skanda), the command-in-chief of the Deva army, the son of Lord Shiva. At last Karthikeya appeared in front of her and gave her a garland of flowers, saying that who ever wears this garland would be able to slay Bhishma. Much encouraged, Amba again tried to find a champion who would wear this garland and slay Bhishma. Once again, she found that no one would even try. She wandered from kingdom to kingdom in her quest. At last, she visited the king Drupada, the king of the Panchalas. He was renowned as a great warrior and also happened to be her kinsman. When she found that even he was unwilling, she was enraged and threw away the garland in the court. No one would even dare to touch the garland. The king took the garland with the help of a stick and tossed it on a tree in his garden. It lay there for a long time until someone did pick it up and wear the garland. However, this was not going to happen for a very many years.Amba then once again performed a tough penance, this time beseeching Shiva. The lord appeared before her and granted her the boon that she would be able to slay Bhishma in her next birth. Amba could not wait for that day to arrive. She lit a pyre and immolated herself.
Later in the future , She was re-born as Shikandi, the daughter of a concubine of Drupada.
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