In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Amba is the eldest daughter of the king of Kashi, who considers the Kuru prince Bhishma responsible for her misfortune and her sole goal in life becomes his destruction, to fulfill which she is reborn as Shikandini (the daughter of Drupada and the sister of Draupadi).
King
Santanu had two sons by Satyavati, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. In a
battle with Gandharva, Chitrangada met with his death. As he died childless,
Bhishma crowned Vichitravirya as king. However as he was a minor, Bhisma,
Santanu’s son by Goddess Ganga had to shoulder
the responsibilities of king on his behalf. When Vichitravirya came of
age Bhishma started looking for a suitable bride for him. It was known to all
that the king of Kasi had three daughters, all of them very beautiful and
accomplished. They were Amba, Ambika and
Ambalika. All three were of nubile age. The prevailing custom known as
Swayamvara gave the freedom to a princess to choose her own husband; but the
aspiring prince had to win her after passing prescribed tests of eligibility in
competition with other suitors. Accordingly, festivities were arranged for the Swayamvara
and all kings and princes were formally invited.
Bhishma
did not want to miss the chance. Assembled princes were surprised how the old
man who had taken a vow of brahmacharya could have been invited. They spoke of
him in derisive terms. They did not know he had come to find a bride for
Vichitravirya. In their minds they cursed the king of Kasi for inviting such an
old man. Bhishma was aware of the undercurrent of resentment among the princes.
As ceremony progressed, the princesses did not even care to look at him. This
incensed Bhishma. Having made up his mind, he challenged the princes for a test
of strength. Those who dared were easily defeated by him. As there seemed
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