The Story of Amba
“A vow of revenge, a boon from Shiva, and a destiny that will change the course of the great war. The tragic story of Amba and her rebirth as Shikhandi.”
Story Summary
Long ago, Bhishma abducted three princesses—Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika—for his half-brother Vichitravirya to marry. But Amba was already in love with King Salva. When Bhishma learned this, he honorably released her to go to Salva. However, Salva rejected Amba, saying she had been abducted by another man. Amba returned to Bhishma and asked him to marry her, but Bhishma refused, bound by his vow of celibacy. Enraged and determined, Amba vowed to be the cause of Bhishma's death. She performed severe penance and received a boon from Lord Shiva: she would be reborn as the cause of Bhishma's death. Amba immolated herself and was reborn as Shikhandi, born as a daughter but later becoming a son. Because of Bhishma's vow not to fight against a woman or one born as a woman, Shikhandi would be the key to Bhishma's fall in the great war. This story explains Shikhandi's origin and reveals Bhishma's vulnerability, setting the stage for the war to come.