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Amba - Page 2© Harsh Nevatia
Page 2
Aug 24, 2001
She consulted her maternal grandfather Hotravahana, who advised her to seek the assistance of Parshurama. Parshurama had been Bhishma’s guru and hence Bhishma would not disobey him. Through Akrutvrana, a disciple of Parshurama, Amba arranged to meet the great sage. She poured out her tale of miseries before him. Parshurama agreed to intervene and summoned Bhishma. He first advised Bhishma and then ordered him, but Bhishma would not retract his decision. “You know well the penalty for disobeying your teacher,” said Parshurama. “I have wiped generations of warriors from the face of this earth and I will not hesitate to slay one more.” Bhishma replied, “This warrior was not born then,” and the two engaged themselves in a duel. The fight lasted several days, both drew blood but none could claim victory. Finally they were prevailed by the Gods to call off the battle. Amba was back to square one. She then pleased Sage Subramanya with her austere penance and he gave her a garland of never fading lotuses, saying that whoever wore that garland would become the mortal enemy of Bhishma. Amba went from pillar to post but she could not convince anyone to accept the garland and the challenge. In frustration she hung the garland on the palace gate of Drupada, the king of Panchal. She went to the forest and undertook even more severe austerities in order to please Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva appeared before her she asked for a boon that she be able to kill Bhishma. Lord Shiva told her that this would not be possible in her present life. She would have to wait for her next life to be the cause of Bhishma’s death. Amba the ended her life by self-immolation. In her next life she was born as Drupad’s daughter Shikhandini and was the cause of Bhishma’s death in the battle of Mahabharata.
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