Chapter 6 - Amba, Ambika and Ambalika -

The Princesses of Kasi

Kasiraja, the King of Kashi was a worried man. He had three
daughters Amba, Ambika and Ambalika and today was their
swayamvara. [the ceremony where the girl chooses their own
husband]. The intelligence and the beauty of this three
daughters had spread throughout the country and he had also
invited the Kings from all over.

No. That was not what was worrying him. What was eating
the King's head was that he had deliberately avoided inviting
the King of Hastinapur for the swayamvara. Kasiraja had his
own reasons and the most important being that Hastinapur
was more or less being ruled by Bhishma. And he had taken
the vow of not marrying. Vichitraviryan, the actual ruler was
nothing more than the paper head. Kashiraja had no intention
of his daughters getting married to someone like that.....

Kashiraj looked at his ravishing daughters and wished they
would hurry up....Kasiraj did not think that Bhishma would
actually come to the swayamvara because he did not think that
the brother would fight for his younger brother's marriage. But
then who knew.... If Bhishma should suddenly
come....Kasiraja was under no illusions when it came to
Bhishma's fighting prowess. He knew that all the Kings and
the princes together were no match for Bhishma.

His eldest daughter Amba had now come forward with the
garland in her hand. Kasiraja looked with approval as she
walked towards the King Shalva. As she was about to place
her garland around...there was a loud commotion outside the
palace.

Everybody turned to see outside....Kasiraja's worst nightmare
came true when he saw a furious Bhishma thundering inside
the palace. However on seeing Bhishma, the other kings and
princes jeered at him. 'Oh... the great Bhishma! He is
attending a swayamvara! I guess he is going to break his
promise now and get married. Wonder whether we should call
him Bhishma or the name he had before this....'

Bhishma did not even falter. He looked calm and looked
straight at Kasiraja.'From the time the two kingdoms of
Hastinapur and Kasi have been in existence, the princesses of
Kasi have become the queens of Hastinapur and you...'
Bhishma looked furiously at Kashiraja, 'You did not even
invite the King of Hastinapur....How dare you?' Bhishma then
looked at the other Kings and princes. 'These princesses will
marry the King of Hastinapur and become King
Vichitraviryan's queens. I am going to take them with me....I
challenge you brave people...' Bhishma said sarcasm dripping
in every tone, '...to stop me!'

As Bhishma went near the three princesses, the Kings and
princes came forward to attack Bhishma. Bhishma countered
the attack with a flick of the wrist. The kings fell back.
Bhishma clutched the hands of the three princesses. Ambika
and Ambalika looked thrilled at the fight. Somebody was
fighting for them....

Amba was however scared and terrified. She loved King
Shalva and she was about to garland him...King Shalva had
fallen back when Bhishma had countered the attack...However
Shalva ferociously got back and picked up his sword. Amba
watched with terrified eyes as Shalva and Bhishma fought
majestically in the court of Kashiraja.

Though King Shalva was seriously outmatched he did not
give up. He came back again and again and again. Looking at
King Shalva, the other kings also started countering Bhishma.
But even together, none of them were able to significantly
even slow down Bhishma. He just took the three princesses
with him and was soon near his chariot.

Once on his chariot, Bhisma commanded his charioteer to
drive the horses as he started using his bow and arrow. King
Shalva gave a chase and fired his own arrows.

Princess Amba watched horrified as one of Bhishma's arrows
pierced King Shalva and hurt him badly. King Shalva fell
unconscious. His charioteer to protect the king drove him
away. The other kings and princes also slowly fell back,
unable to keep up with the speed of the chariot or face the
sharp arrows of Bhishma.

Bhishma kept a sharp vigil out looking for the attack of the
kings and the princes. If he had not been so busy, Bhishma
would have possibly noted that out of three princesses, two
were thrilled and happy. The third one was however angry
and scared at the same. The usually observant Bhishma failed
to note the eldest princess....

Bhishma entered the borders of Hastinapur without any event.
The chariot stopped outside the palace of the Hastinapur. With
great care and love, Bhishma helped the three princesses out
of the chariot one by one. Bhishma for the first time noticed
Amba....But he was not able to fully understand the reactions
of the princess. He led them inside.

'My Queen!' Bhishma called as he entered the room of
Satyavati. As he was about to enter he called the guards
outside, 'Ask the King to come to his mother's room as soon
as possible.' The guard bowed his head and walked out As
Bhishma entered Satyavati's room. Satyvati came out and first
saw the three princesses and then looked at the beaming
Bhishma.

'The future queens of Hastinapur! The princesses of Kasi!'
Satyavati's face broke into happy laugh as she saw the three
ravishing princesses. She nodded to Bhishma and then looked
at the three princesses. 'Come forwards, my daughters! This is
your home...Please be as comfortable....'

'My Queen! I wish to talk to you please!' Princess Amba came
forward and spoke in a rush. It looked as if she had been
dying to say something and had found the courage to say it
only now. Satyavati nodded at the eldest princess. 'Go ahead
my child! What do you wish to say?'

Amba bit her lip as she looked a little fearfully at Bhishma.
Satyvati saw this and came forward and held Amba by her
shoulders. 'It is ok, my child! Please! Do not be afraid!'

Looking at Satyavati uncertainly, Amba said slowly, 'I...I...I
love King Shalva....I was about to garland him, when...' Amba
looked at Bhishma not saying anything.

Bhishma shook his head appalled when he thought of the
number of times he had hurt King Shalva. 'Why didn't you say
anything before?'

Amba looked at Bhishma with fear in her eyes. 'I was
afraid....' She whispered.

Bhishma sighed as he shook his head. But then he realized
that there was no point getting angry at Amba. He himself was
not sure whether he would have paid heed to her at the time
he was attacking the kings in the court of Kasiraja.

He called the guards, 'Guards! Prepare for Princess Amba to
be decked in the most beautiful jewellery and a royal chariot
to send her the Kingdom of King Shalva.'

Amba looked surprised and happy. Bhishma was preparing
for her to be sent to Shalva with riches, befit for a princess....

Happily Amba fell at the feet of Satyavati and Bhishma and
then took off, giddy and happy. She was going to marry the
man she loved....