Bheeshm and Ambaa

Satyavatee now longed for Vichitraveerya's marriage, so she said this to Bheeshm. Bheeshm told that he was planning to bring the three princesses of Kaashee kingdom who were ready for their Swayamvar. But he was waiting only to get their invitation. Satyavatee agreed with this, saying "We have our old relations with Kaashee. Chakravartee Mahaaraaj Bharat's wife Sunandaa was also the princess of Kaashee."

Kaashee's King was organizing his three daughters' Swayamvar - Ambaa, Ambikaa, and Ambaalikaa. He didn't send the invitation to Hastinaapur, at this his Chief Minister said - "You must send the invitation to Hastinaapur. We have an old relationship with them, besides you should not face Bheeshm also." But Raajaa didn't listen to him saying - "I have not forgotten when Shaantanu did not accept Kaashee's King's sister for Bheeshm."

Now this news spread all over Hastinaapur that Kaashee's King was organizing his daughters' Swayamvar and he did not invite Hastinaapur. Bheeshm said - "I cannot tolerate this insult of Hastinaapur, I am going to Kaashee and will come back only after bringing the three princesses here." 

Ambaa loved Shaalv's King, so she knew to whom to choose as her husband. Many kings came in Swayamvar. Shaalv's King was also present there. The process was going on that Bheeshm arrived there, and declared that he had come there as a representative of Hastinaapur, and he wanted the three princesses' hands for his younger brother Hastinaapur's King Vichitraveerya. Some kings protested him, but soon he defeated all kings and asked Raajaa's permission to take the three princesses to Hastinaapur. Seeing all this the Raajaa quietly gave his daughters permission to go with Bheeshm. Bheeshm headed towards Hastinaapur.

Shaalv's King followed them and had a short fight with Bheeshm, but Bheeshm left him saying that he didn't want to take his life which once he himself gave to him.

They all came to Hastinaapur. Satyavatee welcomed them heartily, that Ambaa said - "I want to say something to Raaj Maataa (king's mother)." Satyavatee said - "Please do say, what do you want to say." Ambaa said - "I had already chosen Shaalv's King as my husband before Bheeshm came there, but couldn't say this there because of Bheeshm's fear." Satyavatee said - "Then Ambaa cannot be married to Vichitraveerya. You be patient, Ambaa. Bheeshm, you make the arrangements to send her to Shaalv." And she was sent back to Shaalv.

Ambaa was very happy with this that now she could live with Shaalv's King, but when she arrived there Shaalv's King said - "Tell Bheeshm, that we do not take lost thing in donation. And he has insulted Shaalv by sending you back here. Bheeshm had won you after defeating all of us, that is why you are his, that is the Kshatriya Dharm." Ambaa said - "Don't forget that he came in my Swayamvar and the Varmaalaa was in my hands and the same will be my husband to whom I will choose. I am not a thing which can be won or lost in batle." But Shaalv's King didn't agree with her and insisted that she would have to go back to Hastinaapur.

So Ambaa came back to Hastinaapur, in Vichitraveerya's court. She said - "Mahaaraaj, Bheeshm won me by defeating all kings present there. I had already chosen Shaalv's King as my husband, but Shaalv's King has refused to accept me as his wife." Vichitraveerya said - "He shouldn't have done like this. You don't worry, Hastinaapur's army will soon proceed towards Shaalv." Ambaa said - "But what Shaalv's king has done? I am insulted, and that also because of Bheeshm."

Vichitraveerya said - "Bheeshm can never insult anybody." Ambaa said - "I don't know about anybody else, I know only about myself. And because I have been insulted that is why only I can tell you that who has insulted me, and that is Bheeshm. That is why he will have to marry me." Bheeshm said - "I am vow bound, I cannot marry her, and I declared this first thing in the Swayamvar that I was representing Hastinaapur and came to take the princesses for my younger brother."

Ambaa said to Raajaa - "I was abducted at such a time when I had Varmaalaa in my hands, my sisters accepted you, but I don't accept you. Now I want to put this Varmaalaa in Bheeshm's neck." Bheeshm said - "But this cannot happen." Ambaa said - "Then today I take vow that I will never pardon you for my insult. Even if I will have to take several births, I will be the cause of your death." And Ambaa went out of the court. Everybody was silent.