The Tale of the Three Princesses, Bhishma, and the Princes of Hastinapura

Long ago, in the kingdom of Kashi, there were three beautiful princesses: Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika. The eldest, Amba, was known for her grace and strong will, while Ambika and Ambalika were gentle and kind. They were the daughters of the King of Kashi, who decided to host a grand *svayamvara*, a ceremony where a princess could choose her own husband from a gathering of suitors.

Meanwhile, in Hastinapura, the elderly king Vichitravirya, son of Queen Satyavati, was in need of a bride. Queen Satyavati, eager to find suitable wives for her son, looked to Bhishma, her stepson, who had vowed to remain celibate and loyal to the throne. Bhishma, renowned as a warrior and respected throughout the land, took on the task of finding brides for Vichitravirya.

When Bhishma learned of the svayamvara in Kashi, he decided to attend on behalf of his brother. He arrived at the ceremony in full armor, radiating strength and purpose. To the astonishment of all the kings and princes present, Bhishma declared that he would take the three princesses back to Hastinapura to marry Vichitravirya. In an act of great prowess, he fought off all the other suitors and carried Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika away in his chariot, bringing them to Hastinapura.

On reaching Hastinapura, however, Bhishma learned a troubling truth. Amba, the eldest princess, confessed to him that she had already given her heart to Shalva, the King of Saubala, who had been present at the svayamvara. She explained that she had hoped to marry Shalva, and now, bound by honor, she could not marry Vichitravirya. She requested permission to return to Shalva, and Bhishma, ever honorable, agreed to her request.

Amba journeyed to Shalva’s kingdom, but when she arrived, Shalva rejected her, saying that he could not marry her because she had been won in battle by another man. Shamed and rejected, Amba returned to Hastinapura, pleading with Bhishma to marry her. However, Bhishma, bound by his vow of celibacy, could not marry her and explained that he had only taken her for his brother, Vichitravirya.

Heartbroken and humiliated, Amba was consumed with anger toward Bhishma, whom she blamed for her misfortune. She vowed to take revenge on him, dedicating her life to one purpose: to be the cause of Bhishma’s death. Amba left Hastinapura and embarked on a path of penance and austerity, praying for the power to one day defeat Bhishma.

Meanwhile, the younger princesses, Ambika and Ambalika, were married to Vichitravirya. Unfortunately, Vichitravirya’s health was frail, and after a few years, he died without leaving any heirs. This left the throne of Hastinapura without a successor, causing great concern for Queen Satyavati and Bhishma. Hastinapura was without a king, and Satyavati feared for the kingdom’s future.

Satyavati, desperate to preserve the royal lineage, recalled the boon granted to her by the sage Parashara, which allowed her to call upon her son Vyasa, a wise and powerful sage born of her union with Parashara before her marriage to King Shantanu. Satyavati asked Vyasa to perform the ancient custom of *Niyoga* and father children with the widowed queens, Ambika and Ambalika, to ensure the continuation of the Kuru dynasty.

Vyasa, honoring his mother’s request, agreed. He approached Ambika first, but she was so frightened by Vyasa’s appearance that she closed her eyes during the union. As a result, her son, Dhritarashtra, was born blind. Vyasa then went to Ambalika, but she turned pale with fear, resulting in the birth of her son, Pandu, who was born with a pale complexion and weak health. Satyavati, disheartened, asked Vyasa to try once more, but this time Ambika, terrified, sent a maid in her place. The maid, calm and respectful, accepted Vyasa without fear, and she gave birth to a wise and healthy son named Vidura, who would later become a wise counselor to the Kuru dynasty.

Thus, the lineage of Hastinapura was preserved through Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura, setting the stage for the great events that would unfold in the Mahabharata. However, Amba’s story did not end here. Her anger and desire for revenge against Bhishma fueled her spirit. After years of penance, she was reborn as Shikhandi, a warrior who would one day play a crucial role in Bhishma’s defeat on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, fulfilling her vow of vengeance.

### Moral:

The tale of Amba, Ambika, Ambalika, and Bhishma teaches us about the complexities of duty, fate, and the consequences of actions. Bhishma’s vow of celibacy and his loyalty to Hastinapura shaped not only his destiny but also the lives of those around him. Amba’s story reveals the dangers of unresolved anger and the lengths one can go for justice. This tale reminds us that even the noblest intentions can lead to unintended consequences, emphasizing the importance of compassion and understanding in matters of duty and honor.