Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Kashi, lived three princesses. Adorned with beauty and blessed by the goddess of knowledge, the princesses were desired by all the kings for their sons. Amba, the eldest sister was a ferocious warrior, a rebel, a woman who knew what she deserved and to fight for it. The younger two, Ambika and Ambalika, were known in the ancient Bharatvarsh as the flawless and virtuous women, looked up to by all the young girls.
When the princesses came of age, the king of Kashi, Kashya hosted the grandest Swayamvar for his daughters. Kings and princes’ came from all across Bharat with gifts, horses, jewels, and precious stones. Sages and Brahmins chanted the holy mantras to bless the princesses in the grand ceremony. People traveled lands to witness the Swayamvar and the citizens of Kashya celebrated the day with colors and dances.
Inside the palace, the hearts of Ambika and Ambalika were racing. It was the day that would define their lives. A prince, unknown to them at the moment will be their consort for the rest of their lives. Amba was rather calmer. She knew she belonged to Salva, the king of Salwa kingdom. They had been together for long, her heart belonged to him and his soul to her.
“It’s time girls!” announced their mother excitedly, rushing the princesses out of their chambers and kissing them luck.
As they walked into the hall, in the presence of thousands of people, they did not know that this day would indeed change their lives. Amba smiled and winked at Salva, not knowing that it would be their last moment of love together.
Kashya rose from his throne and blessed his daughters, bestowing them with a long life of happiness and love.
The ceremony then began with kings and princes’ approaching the throne and introducing themselves. Suddenly, the beats of the dhol, the tunes of the veena, and the whispers faded. A loud thundering roar was heard. Every man in the hall froze. The son of Shantanu, the greatest warrior of the time, the bearer of the terrible oath, Gangaputra Bhishma emerged in the hall. His chiseled face blazed in the sun, his broad shoulders adorned with jewels and battle scars. With a swift turn of hands, he guided his chariot into the hall, towards the princesses.
It hadn’t been long since the Swayamvar had ended abruptly. The three sisters were in the hall of Hastinapur, the land of the great warriors. Ambika and Ambalika were seated on the thrones of the hall, contemplating the situation they were in while Amba’s feet wouldn’t stop. With the rage of a lion, she moved around the hall, furious with the actions of Bhishma. The warrior known in the three worlds for his terrible oath had forcefully abducted the daughters of Kashi from their Swayamvar. The kings protested, showering the undefeatable warrior with an ocean of arrows. The king of Kashi protested and begged while Salva stepped ahead and challenged him to a duel. After a ferocious combat, Bhishma defeated Salva though sparing his life. In a few moments, the princesses were in his chariot, fighting his strength by all of theirs.
story continued on Thursday
until then- A very brief synopsis so that you aren’t left hanging there
So Ambika and Ambalika end up marrying Vichitravirya (half brother of Bhishma), while Amba reveals her feelings about Salva and her promise to marry him. She rebels against Bhishma and Satyavati and is then allowed to go back to Salva after Bhishma is acquainted with her true feelings. But with the change of events, Salva refuses to marry her, igniting one of the greatest revenge stories of history. A story of rebirth, love, pain, and the death of the invincible warrior who none could kill.
Another read similar to this – AMBA- INTO THE FIRE (a short story on the life of Amba from her POV)