Amba began to travel, asking the most famous and powerful kings of the time to avenge her, to challenge and kill Bhishma for her, but she found no one who was willing to face the invincible son of Ganga. Only Parasurama tried to console her and even clashed with Bhishma, but in the end, he had to give up that purpose. Bhishma was too strong.
Parasurama’s defeat was a terrible disappointment for Amba. Even he hadn’t been able to give her the only thing she wanted from life, which for her had become hell. Not only had no one wanted to give her a family, but no one wanted or could get her revenge. Thus, she decided to retire to the forest and become an ascetic.
For many years she endured severe austerities to propitiate the god Subrahmanya, who eventually appeared to her. He handed her a garland, and told her:
“My unfortunate girl, take this garland of flowers; know that whoever wears it will become Bhishma’s sworn enemy.”
Then, Amba resumed traveling through the numerous kingdoms, but the same thing was repeated; despite the divine provenance, no one wanted to wear the garland. Desperate and deprived of all hope, Amba hung it on a nail outside the gates of the capital of king Drupada.
Then, she returned to the forest and immolated herself in a great fire.
Amba would later be reborn as Shikhandi, the daughter of Maharaja Drupada. She would become Bhishma’s declared enemy and would strongly contribute to his death.
This is a section of the book “Maha-Bharata As It Is vol. 1 of 2”.
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