Amba

For the Israeli condiment, see amba (condiment).

Amba was the eldest daughter of King of Kashi in the Hindu epic of the Mahabharata.

Along with her sisters Ambika and Ambalika, she was taken by force by Bhishma from their Swayamvara. (Bhishma challenged the assembled Kings and Princes and defeated them.) He presented them to Satyavati for marriage to Vichitravirya, the king of Hastinapura.

Vichitravirya married only her sisters, since Amba had already given her heart to some other. Amba then demanded that Bhishma marry her, since he was the one to have won her in swayamvara. But he too declined since he had already taken a vow of bachelorhood. Enraged, she swore to kill him, at least in her next life, and died.

She was re-born as Shikhandi the son of Drupada. In the battle of Kurukshetra, Shikhandi was instrumental in Bhishma's death.

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The Mahabharata by Vyasa
Characters
Kuru Dynasty	Others
Santanu \| Ganga \| Bhishma \| Satyavati \| Chitrāngada \| Vichitravirya \| Ambika \| Ambalika \| Vidura \| Dhritarashtra \| Gandhari \| Shakuni \| Subhadra \| Pandu \| Kunti \| Madri \| Yudhisthira \| Bhima \| Arjuna \| Nakula \| Sahadeva \| Duryodhana \| Dushasana \| Yuyutsu \| Dushala \| Draupadi \| Hidimbi \| Ghatotkacha \| Ahilawati \| Uttara \| Ulupi \| Chitrāngadā	Amba > Barbarika \| Babruvahana \|Iravan \| Abhimanyu \| Parikshita \| Virata \| Kripa \| Drona \| Ashwatthama \| Ekalavya \| Kritavarma \| Jarasandha \| Satyaki \| Mayasura \| Durvasa \| Sanjaya \| Janamejaya \| Vyasa \| Karna \| Jayadratha \| Krishna \| Balarama \| Drupada \| Hidimba \| Dhristadyumna \| Shalya \| Adhiratha \| Shikhandi
Other
Pandava \| Kaurava \| Hastinapura \| Indraprastha \| Kurukshetra war \| Bhagavad Gita