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TGIBD (THANK GOD ITS BLOG DAY.)

The theory of cause and effect is always in use when Mahabharat is concerned. So please if you are reading this series for the first time, then please go back and read the blog1, Blog 2 starts from here:

Satyawati and Shantanu gave birth to Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Both boys. It was a great news because Hastinapur had heirs. As per the condition given, Satyawati’s kids were to be made the king. But there was an issue.

Chitrangada was killed in a battle without giving birth to any kid and on the other hand Vichitravirya was either not interested in marrying women or was weak or whatever.(not mentioned why Vichtravirya couldn’t find a girl)

This was a big problem for the clan. They had no sons who could take the charge of the kingdom. Bhishma had taken the vow. There was no chance Bhishma could have a baby.

The king of Kashi had three daughters. Amba, Ambika, Ambalika. (Age:20,18,16. Age may vary.)

All the three daughters had their Swayamwar(an event where the GIRL chooses the BOY she wants to marry) arranged. All the prince from all over Bharat were called barring the prince of the Kuru clan.

This made Bhishma furious.

He went to the Swayamvar and took the three sisters away. No one from the Swayamvar could fight Bhishma the greatest warrior in humanity.

Amba, Ambika and Ambalika were asked to marry Vichitravirya.

Amba said, “I am in love with the King of Shalva, Salva.”

Bhishma didn’t care. They had to marry Vichitravirya.

Vichitravirya said, “She has given her heart to someone else. Why should I marry her?”

Amba was asked to go back to Salva. Ambika, Ambalika married Vichitravirya.

Amba happily went back to Silva but knowing that Amba was taken away by Bhishma, Silva refused to marry Amba. Amba went back to Hastinapur and asked Bhishma to marry her. He couldn’t.

Amba was furious. Bhishma ruined her life by abducting her from the swayamvar and secondly by not marrying her.

Amba went to every king asking for a help. The help was a revenge. Revenge to kill Bhishma. No one agreed to challenge the greatest warrior on the planet.

This is when Parashuram (the teacher of Bhishma) was approached. Parashuram ordered Bhishma to marry Amba. Bhishma said he could not marry Amba because of his vow and asked him not to indulge in this matter. This made Parashuram angry and Bhishma was asked for a fight.

The fight between Bhishma and Parashuram lasted for 23 days. No one could defeat no one. Parashuram ended the fight and it was decalared a draw. He told Amba the whole episode and that he can’t help her.

Amba was again helpless. She sat for a fierce sadhana for a very long stretch of days without food.

Kartikeya knowing this, blessed Amba with a GARLAND of LOTUS and told that any one who wears this garland will be able to kill Bhishma.

Amba again went to all the kings but no one was ready to wear the garland because they knew no one could kill Bhishma.¹

The last king Amba went to was Dhrupad. The father of Draupadi (Panchaali) and Dhrishtadyumn. He also refused. Amba was frustrated. She hung the garland at one of the stones of Dhrupad’s fort.

Again, Amba sat for a sadhana fierce than the previous one and called SHIVA.

Amba asked Shiva to kill Bhishma. Shiva refused but said “Will it not be great if you get the chance to take your revenge?” (paraphrased) and blessed Amba that in her next life she will kill Bhishma.

Revenge sorted.

Amba lost her body on a mountain to come back and take her revenge.

SOME YEARS LATER:

The birth of the death of Bhishma:

King Dhrupad was blessed with a girl named Shikhand. Sister to Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumn.

Shikhandi was once roaming in the fort. There she saw a fresh garland of lotus. She playfully wore the garland. Seeing this, Dhrupad banished Shikhandi out of his kingdom fearing the death of Bhishma.

Shikhandi was past life Amba. The one instrumental in Bhishma’s death was back.

GYAAN:

1. Even after getting a blessing from a god, kings were not ready to fight. This shows the psychological drama of the mind overpowered god’s blessing. We all need to know that there is a world beyond our thoughts. If we keep living in our mind, we might not tap the possibilities in this universe.