Ambaa's Thirst for Revenge

Ill-fated Ambaa spent six years wandering around in forests with no hopes to fulfill. Her heart was full of hatred towards Bheeshm. She met several Tapaswee in forest, she told them her story and promised to stay with them to do Tap, but nobody could help her. Then she came to Hotravaahan, her grandfather. He comforted her and said - "Maharshi Bhaargav is my good friend, He is the Guru of Bheeshm also, he will command his disciple to obey him. I am sure Bheeshm cannot disobey him."

A few days later Maharshi Bhaargav came in that forest. Hotravaahan told him the story of Ambaa, he was very sorry for her and assured Ambaa to speak to Bheeshm about it. Parashuraam went to Bheeshm and sent for him. Bheeshm immediately went to see him. Bhaargav said - "My son, I want you to help a person. Do you see this woman?" Bheeshm said - "Yes, I know her. She has been cheated by fate. She wanted to marry Shaalv, but he would not marry her. Then she wanted to marry me, but I cannot marry her as well, as I have vowed not to marry lifelong. But what she is doing here in our presence?" 

Bhaargav said - "I have promised her that Bheeshm will marry you. So you must keep my words and marry her." Bheeshm said - "You know very well that I have vowed for being unmarried lifelong, so even if you ask me to marry her, I cannot marry her." Bhaargav was very angry with Bheeshm, he said - "I will give you Shaap or you must fight with me." Bheeshm did not want to bag a Shaap from his Guru so he preferred the fight. He said - "You know how much I love you, if you ask me to fight, I will fight with you."

Both fought for days and nights together. Even Devtaa also watched this fight. On the last day of the fight Bheeshm decided to send Praswaap Astra which meant the destruction of the world. Devtaa led by Naarad and Shiv intervened the fighting and said - "Bheeshm, Stop the fighting. You are not to destroy this world. This is someone else' duty." They also convinced him to withdraw from the fight otherwise it will be insult of hid Guru. Bheeshm agreed. Parashuraam embraced Bheeshm and said - "You are the greatest fighter of the world. Even I could not defeat you." He asked Ambaa to go away as he could not fulfill her desire as promised.

Ambaa, then, left that Van and went into another forest and did a severe Tap. She denied herself even the bare necessities. Kaartikeya, the son of Shiv, got pleased with her and gave her a garland of ever-fresh lotus flowers and said - "Take this garland. The person who wears it round his neck will be the person will kill Bheeshm." Ambaa was very happy with garland.

Now she set out in search of the person who would wear it and kill Bheeshm. She went o many powerful kings but nobody agreed to wear that garland. Then she went to the court of Drupad, king of Paanchaal Desh. But he also refused to wear it. Ambaa was desperate. She flung the garland around a pillar in the great hall of Drupad. Drupad was very angry with Ambaa's sudden action. Ambaa left the hall, the garland was there but nobody dared to touch it. Rather it was guarded carefully.

She again went to forest and resumed her Tap. After a long time Shankar appeared before her and said - "In your next life you yourself will kill Bheeshm." Ambaa said - "But who remembers previous birth's account?" Shankar said - "Do not worry, you will remember most of your previous birth incidents. You will be born as a cxhild of Drupad. You will be a woman first, later you will become a man. Then you will have your revenge." Ambaa built a huge fire and jumped into it.

Later she was born as Drupad's daughter. One day while playing in the hall, Ambaa saw that garland. She took it and wore it round her neck. Drupad came running hearing this. He was trembling with fear. Ambaa smiled at him and said - "Don't be surprised at this. I am born her only for this purpose. You don't worry about this."

She was called Shikhandee. She was educated by Drone who thought that she would be a man. By the kindness of a Yaksh she got the manhood and became the cause of Bheeshm's death.