THE MAHABHARATAM : (in 18 Episodes) - PRELUDE to the Bhagavad Geeta : Episode 3 :

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Saturday, March 04, 2023. 07:30.

How the Writing Began :

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Episode 3 : Amba Seeks Revenge on Bhishma :

Santanu married the fisherman king’s daughter. Two sons were born from them, 

Chitrangada and Vichitraveerya. The former was killed in a battle with the Gandharvas, the 

latter became crowned as Prince. Bhishma himself brought up Vichitraveerya and trained 

him to be a capable king.

At the appropriate time, Bhishma went in search of a bride for Vichitraveerya. He 

organized a Swayamwara. The King of Kashi had three daughters, named Amba, Ambalika 

and Ambika. Bhishma told the King that he had come for brides for Vichitraveerya. King 

Shalva, who had already declared his affection for Amba, challenged Bhishma but did not 

say why. Bhishma defeated him and took all three sisters for Vichitraveerya. Just before the 

marriage, Amba confided to Bhishma, “I have something to tell you. My heart is with 

Shalva.”

Bhishma then understood, and said, “I will arrange to send you to Shalva with all 

respect and honour.” Amba agreed to go. Shalva said he could not accept Amba as he was 

honourably defeated by Bhishma. When Vichitraveerya came to know of this secret love for 

Shalva harboured by Amba, he refused to keep her. When Amba returned to Bhishma after 

being refused by Shalva, Bhishma also refused to take her. The entire situation was thus 

changed for Amba. She lamented, “I have lost my honour. Now, no one will take me.” 

Amba was furious and wild at the turn of events. She sought to take revenge on 

Bhishma. She meditated on Lord Subramanya, the Senapati (Commander-in-Chief) of the 

Devatas. Her vengeance was growing. Subramanya gave her a garland saying the one whom 

you give it to will be instrumental in destroying Bhishma. Amba took the garland and threw 

it towards Drupada’s palace, knowing that Drupada was very powerful. The garland fell on 

the entrance gate of the palace. Parasurama picked it and decided to challenge Bhishma, 

but was no match for him. Disappointed and still burning with revenge, Amba went to the 

Himalayas and surrendered to Lord Shiva.

The Lord asked her, “What do you want, Amba?” Amba told her whole story. The 

Lord said, “In this birth nothing is possible. In your next birth you will succeed.”

Her vengeance was so strong that she at once jumped into fire and immolated

herself. She was reborn as the daughter of a powerful King. When she could walk, she went 

into exile in the forest where she did intense Tapas and became transformed into a man and 

became known as Shikhandi. It was this Shikhandi who was used as a shield by Arjuna in his 

battle against Bhishma. Bhishma would not attack Shikhandi knowing that ‘he’ was a 

woman. Thus Arjuna was able to shoot the “bed of Arrows” that rendered Bhishma 

powerless, until Bhishma chose to leave this world.

*****

Next
Episode 4:
The Story of Vidhura
To be continued

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