Chapter 3 : Sons of Shantanu

 Chapter 3 : Sons of Shantanu

This chapter introduces many new characters, so there will be quite a few names to remember.

After marrying Satyavati, Shantanu had two sons: Chitrangada and Vichitraviriya. When Shantanu passed away, Chitrangada ascended the throne. However, one day, Chitrangada was challenged to a duel by a Gandharva who shared the same name. In the end, Chitrangada was killed, and Vichitraviriya was crowned king. Since Vichitraviriya was still very young, Bheeshma took on the responsibility of ruling the kingdom on his behalf.

When the time came for Vichitraviriya to marry, Satyavati asked Bheeshma to attend the swayamvara of the three princesses of Kashi—Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika.

The story of Bheeshma and Amba is quite involved, but I’ll try to keep it brief.

Amba had her heart set on King Shalva and was ready to choose him during the swayamvara. However, when Bheeshma arrived, he defeated all the kings, including King Shalva, and took the three princesses back to Hastinapur.

When they arrived in Hastinapur, Amba told Bheeshma that she had only ever wanted to marry King Shalva. Understanding her feelings, Bheeshma allowed her to return to him. However, when Amba approached King Shalva, he refused to marry her, feeling humiliated by his defeat at Bheeshma’s hands.

Meanwhile, Vichitraviriya married Ambika and Ambalika. Heartbroken and seeing her sisters married, Amba returned to Hastinapur and asked Bheeshma to marry her. But Bheeshma, bound by his oath of celibacy, refused.

Amba was furious and held Bheeshma responsible for her misery. Consumed by a desire for revenge, she sought help from Sage Parasurama, one of Bheeshma’s revered Gurus. Parasurama summoned Bheeshma and gave him an ultimatum: either marry Amba or face him in combat. Bheeshma, unwavering in his vow, refused to marry her, leading to a fierce battle between the two.

Bheeshma and Parasurama fought fiercely for a long time, but eventually, Parasurama realized that the battle would never reach a conclusion and decided to stop the fight, allowing Bheeshma to go. He then informed Amba that he could no longer help her.

Determined, Amba retreated to the forest and began performing severe penances to appease Lord Shiva. Pleased with her devotion, Shiva appeared before her and asked, “What boon do you seek?” Amba, filled with a burning desire for vengeance, replied, “I want to take revenge on Bheeshma. I want to kill him.”

Shiva told Amba that she would not be able to achieve this in her current life, but he granted her a boon: in her next birth, she would be the one to kill Bheeshma. After giving this blessing, Shiva disappeared.

Impatient for her next life, Amba decided to end her current one. She built a pyre and ended her life by jumping into the fire.

Years later, Amba was reborn as Shikandi, the daughter of Drupada—a story I will narrate at a later stage.

Previous:- Chapter 2 – Devabrata’s oath

Next:- Chapter 4 – The Growth of the Kuru Dynasty