Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata: Amba Part A

Amba (image source from Wikipedia)

Bhishma brought three women to be wives of his step brother, Vichitravirya. In his chariot, he abducted the three princesses- Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika after the Swayamvara. There was a king that secretly betrothed Amba named Salva. He fought and attacked Bhishma in a duel and lost then Bhishma spared his life. Amba is one of the three princesses and the eldest daughter of King Kashi.

When the wedding day came closer, Amba told Bhishma that she was secretly in love and committed to the king of the Shalwas. Bhishma released her while his brother only married the other two princesses, Ambika and Ambalika.

She went to go rejoin with the king of the Shalwas. He was deeply mortified, embarrassed, and did not want anything to do with Amba. He was defeated by the hands of Bhishma and grew bitter about his loss. The king of the Shalwas felt like he did not earn her and felt unworthy to be with her. He felt like she was the rightful owner of Bhishma who defeated him and other kings. Even though Amba made it clear to him that she had strong feelings for him, he did not show any type of affection- so he turned her away.

Amba cried and became humiliated for what has happened and not knowing what to do. She could not return back to Hastinapura (hometown) because she did not have the courage to return home. She concluded that it was Bhishma’s fault. He was the source to all her problems.

For a while, she drew her penances. She would sit in silence and stillness for hours or days, she let her beauty drift away, and her hair became thinner. Then finally the Great God, Shiva, got drawn by her prayers, came to fulfill her wish. Amba wanted to become a man to resolve her misery and to kill Bhishma her next life. Shiva blessed Amba with that wish, so that in her next life, she would remember her hatred for Bhishma.

Amba proceeded create a funeral pyre of food at the banks of Yamuna. She jumped in the fire and said, “I do this for the destruction of Bhishma! To obtain a new body for the destruction of Bhishma do I enter this fire!”

Sister Nivedita, Amba, Link