PANDAVAS ESCAPE LAC-HOUSE FIRE, ARJUNA WINS THE HAND OF DRAUPADI

MAHABHARATA-ADIPARVA- PANDAVAS ESCAPE LAC-HOUSE FIRE, ARJUNA WINS THE HAND OF DRAUPADI

                                                       ॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

                     Pandavas escape the  Lakshagriha f ire,  Arjuna wins the hand of Draupadi          

                             सत्कृताश्चैव पौरैस्ते पौरान्सत्कृत्य च [अनघ]

             अलङ्कृतं जनाकीर्णं विविशुर्वारणावतम् ॥

Welcomed by the citizens with honour and honouring the citizens (in turn), the Pandavas entered the decorated Varanavata, crowded with people.

             तेभ्यो भक्ष्याणि पानानि शयनानि शुभानि च।

             आसनानि च मुख्यानि प्रददौ स पुरोचनः।

             निवेदयामास गृहं शिवाख्यमशिवं तदा॥

That Purochana gave them food, drinks, beautiful beds and excellent seats, and offered (them) an inauspicious house named (however) Siva (the auspicious one)

CROWNING OF YUDHISHTHIRA AS YUVARAJA, MACHINATIONS OF DURYODHANA

MAHABHARATA- CROWNING OF YUDHISHTHIRA AS YUVARAJA, MACHINATIONS OF DURYODHANA

                                                       ॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

     Crowning of Yudhishthira as Yuvaraja, Machinations of Duryodhana against Pandavas.

            धृतराष्ट्रस्तु [राजेन्द्र] यदा कौरवनन्दनम्।

        युधिष्ठरं विजानन्वै समर्थं राज्यरक्षणे।

        यौवराज्याभिषेकार्थममन्त्रयत मन्त्रिभिः ।

        ते तु बुध्वाऽन्वतप्यन्त धृतराष्ट्रात्मजास्तदा ॥

When, finding that Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu (of the Kuru line), was capable of protecting the State, Dhritarashtra took counsel with his ministers for his installation as heir-apparent, the sons of Dhritarashtra, coming to know of this, burnt (with envy).

        ततस्संवत्स्ररस्यान्ते यौवराज्याय [पर्थिव]।

        स्थापितो धृतराष्ट्रेण पाण्डुपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

Then, at the end of a year, Yudhishithira, the son of Pandu,

was established as heir-apparent by Dhritarashtra.

ARJUNA DISPLAYS HIS ARCHERY SKILLS, KARNA'S RIVALRY AND HIS CROWNING AS KING OF ANGAS

MAHABHARATA-ARJUNA DISPLAYS HIS ARCHERY SKILLS, KARNA'S RIVALRY AND HIS CROWNING AS KING OF ANGAS

                                                       ॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

  Arjuna displays his archery skills, Karna competes with him, crowned king of Angas by Duryodhana

            कृतास्त्रान् धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च पाण्डुपुत्रांश्च [भारत]

            दृष्ट्वा द्रोणोऽब्रवीद् [राजन्] धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम् ॥

Seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra and the sons of Pandu trained well in missiles, Drona told king Dhritarashtra:

           ‘राजन् संप्राप्तविद्यास्ते कुमाराः कुरुसत्तम।

            ते दर्शयेयुस्स्वां शिक्षां [राजन्] अनुमते तव ॥

“ King, your sons have become fully educated; O best of the Kurus! with your permission, they would exhibit what they have learnt.””

DEATH OF PANDU, TRAINING OF KAURAVAS AND PANDAVAS IN ARCHERY UNDER DRONA

MAHABHARATA - DEATH OF PANDU, TRAINING OF KAURAVAS AND PANDAVAS IN ARCHERY UNDER DRONA

                                                    ॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

                   Death of Pandu,  Training of Pandavas and Kauravas in archery under Drona.   

             सुपुष्पितवने काले कदाचिन्मधुमाधवे।

         भूतसंमोहने राजा सभार्यो व्यचरद्वनम्॥

Once, in spring time when forests were in full bloom and (all) beings were entranced, king Pandu wandered in the forest with his wife.

        तं माद्र्यनुजगामैका वसनं बिभ्रती शुभम्।

        तत एनां बलाद्राजा निजग्राह रहोगताम्॥

Wearing bright attire Madri, herself alone, was following him. The king then seized her forcibly in private.

        स तया सह संगम्य युयुजे कालधर्मणा ।

Uniting with her, Pandu died

BIRTH OF KAURAVAS AND PANDAVAS

MAHABHARATA(CONDENSED)- BIRTH OF KAURAVAS AND PANDAVAS

                                        

                                                               ॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

              Birth of Kauravas and Pandavas

                      

                      भीष्मेण राजा कौरव्यो धृतराष्ट्रोऽभिषेचितः।

           अमात्यो मनुजेन्द्रस्य [भीष्मेण] विदुरः कृतः।

           त्रिषु लोकेषु न त्वासीत् कश्चिद्विदुरसंमितः ॥

Dhritarashtra, the descendant of Kuru, was crowned king by Bhishma; and Vidura was made the king’s minister.  There was none equal to Vidura in all the three worlds.

           धृतराष्ट्रस्त्वचक्षुष्ट्वाद् राज्यं न प्रत्यपद्यत ।

           पारशवत्वाद् विदुरो, राजा पाण्डुर्बभुव ह ॥

But, being blind, Dhritarashtra did not accept the kingdom; being of mixed caste, Vidura did not; Pandu became king.

BIRTH OF DHRITARASHTRA, PANDU AND VIDURA

THE MAHABHARATA (CONDENSED) - BIRTH OF DHRITARASHTRA, PANDU AND VIDURA

                                                               ॥    आदिपर्व   ॥

                Birth of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura

          ततो विवाहे निर्वृत्ते सत्यवत्यामजायत।

          वीरश्चित्राङ्गदो नाम वीर्यवान्पुरुषेश्वरः ॥

Then after the marriage was celebrated, was born to satyavati (the fisherman’s daughter) a heroic son, a warrior and lord of men, named Chitrangada.

          अथापरं महेष्वासं सत्यवत्यां सुतं प्रभुः।

          विचित्रवीर्यं राजानं जनयामास वीर्यवान् ॥

The powerful king then begot by Satyavati another son, King Vichitraveerya, a great archer.

VOW OF BHISHMA

THE MAHABHARATA (CONDENSED) -VOW OF BHISHMA

                                       

            आद्यं पुरुषमीशानं पुरुहूतं पुरुष्टुतम्।

            नमस्कृत्य हृषीकेशं चराचरगुरुं हरिम्।

            प्रवक्ष्यामि मतं कृत्स्नं व्यासस्याद्भुतकर्मणः ॥

    

Having made obeisance unto Hari, the primeval Being, the Master who is invoked and praised by many, the lord of our senses and the father of all that moves and all that moves not, I shall expound the whole of the thought of Vyasa of wonderful deeds.

         नमो भगवते तस्मै व्यासायामिततेजसे।

         यस्य प्रसादात् वक्ष्यामि नारायणकथामिमाम्॥

Obeisance unto the divine Vyasa of immense splendour by whosegrace I shall relate the story of Narayana.

YAKSHA PRASHNA- II

EPISODES FROM MAHABHARATA YAKSHA PRASHNA- II

                    EPISODES FROM MAHABHARATA

                             YAKSHA PRASHNA- II

The episode known as  “Yaksha Prashna”  in Mahabharata  relates to the exchange of questions and answers between Yama in the guise of a Yaksha who poses 126 difficult questions to Yudhishthira who gives the most fitting answers to those questions. The background to this episode is something like this. One day during their incognito vanavasa, Yudhishthira felt very thirsty and there was no water in sight to quench his thirst.  Sahadeva, the youngest of the Pandavas climbed up a tree and spotted a lake at a distance.  When he reached the lake to bring water for Yudhushthira, he heard a voice which said “Beware! don’t touch the water before you answer my questions”.  Without heeding the warning Sahadeva started collecting water from the lake.  No sooner had he touched the water than he fell down dead on the shore of the lake. Seeing Sahadeva not returning, Nakula went after him.  He too met the same fate as also his elder brothers Arjuna and Bhima.   Finally Yudhishthira went to the lake and he was shocked by seeing all his brothers dead.  The Yaksha revealed to him his terrible form and warned him that he should answer his questions before helping himself to the water in the lake.  Yudhishthira gave him fitting replies and Yaksha was pleased.  Then Yaksha said that he would bring back to life one of his brothers.  Yudhisshthira wanted Nakula to be brought back to life.  The Yaksha asked him why he was asking Nakula, the son of Madri, to be brought to life instead of Bhima or Arjuna who were his own brothers being Kunti’s children. Yudhisshthira replied that he had two mothers Kunti and Madri, both being wives of his father.  He, Kunti Devi’s son, was alive.  Therefore it was only just and equitable that Nakula, the eldest son of Madri should also be alive.  Yaksha who was none other than Yama, the god of death, was very pleased by Yudhishthira’s reply and brought back to life all the brothers of Yudhishthira.

Given below are the Yaksha’s questions with Yudhishthira’s answers from the great epic of Mahabharata with a  simple translation in English.

(CONTINUED FROM PART I)

YAKSHA PRASHNA - I

EPISODES FROM MAHABHARATA - YAKSHA PRASHNA - I

                  EPISODES FROM MAHABHARATA

                          YAKSHA PRASHNA - I

The episode known as  “Yaksha Prashna”  in Mahabharata  relates to the exchange of questions and answers between Yama in the guise of a Yaksha who poses 126 difficult questions to Yudhishthira who gives the most fitting answers to those questions. The background to this episode is something like this. One day during their incognito vanavasa, Yudhishthira felt very thirsty and there was no water in sight to quench his thirst.  Sahadeva, the youngest of the Pandavas climbed up a tree and spotted a lake at a distance.  When he reached the lake to bring water for Yudhushthira, he heard a voice which said “Beware! don’t touch the water before you answer my questions”.  Without heeding the warning Sahadeva started collecting water from the lake.  No sooner had he touched the water than he fell down dead on the shore of the lake. Seeing Sahadeva not returning, Nakula went after him.  He too met the same fate as also his elder brothers Arjuna and Bhima.   Finally Yudhishthira went to the lake and he was shocked by seeing all his brothers dead.  The Yaksha revealed to him his terrible form and warned him that he should answer his questions before helping himself to the water in the lake.  Yudhishthira gave him fitting replies and Yaksha was pleased.  Then Yaksha said that he would bring back to life one of his brothers.  Yudhisshthira wanted Nakula to be brought back to life.  The Yaksha asked him why he was asking Nakula, the son of Madri, to be brought to life instead of Bhima or Arjuna who were his own brothers being Kunti’s children. Yudhisshthira replied that he had two mothers Kunti and Madri, both being wives of his father.  He, Kunti Devi’s son, was alive.  Therefore it was only just and equitable that Nakula, the eldest son of Madri should also be alive.  Yaksha who was none other than Yama, the god of death, was very pleased by Yudhishthira’s reply and brought back to life all the brothers of Yudhishthira.

Given below are the Yaksha’s questions with Yudhishthira’s answers from the
great epic of Mahabharata with a  simple translation in English.

Chapter 8 - Shikhandi

Satyavathi sighed as she saw the glowering figure of the Kasi Princess Amba in the palace of Hastinapur.

As was the practice among the warriors, Bhishma had abducted the princesses of Kasi on the very day of their swayamvara and he had brought the three princesses of Kasi for Vichitraviryan. Ambika and Ambalika had married Vichitraviryan and were very happy with him.

Princess Amba.....however that was another matter.

Satyavati felt a little sorry for the princess. First she was spurned by Shalva, the man she loved, for the reason that Bhishma had defeated him and taken her away. Then Vichitraviryan refused to marry her saying that Amba had already chosen Shalva as her husband and he could not marry her now....

Because Bhishma had defeated Shalva, Amba was now forcing Bhishma to marry her....Well atleast trying to...Satyavathi thought sighing again. Amba had stayed in the palace of Hastinapur for the past six years and was trying to get Bhishma to marry her...Satyavathi smiled sadly. Bhishma was named that [Bhishma meant 'The firm”] because he had made a terrible promise of never to marry and Satyvati knew that nothing....absolutely nothing could change his mind. As far as Satyvati knew Bhishma had never thought of any woman and Satyvati was sure that Amba could not change Bhishma's mind.

But nowadays looking at Amba, Satyavathi was getting a little nervous. Satyavathi sensed that the six long years in Hastinapur and probably watching her two sisters happy with Vichitraviryan, had changed Amba irrevocably. Amba was now a woman who never smiled and gradually all the frustration she was feeling was becoming into hatred. Satyvathi realized with a growing uneasiness that Amba's hatred had found a target – Bhishma. Amba was blaming Bhishma for her misfortunes thinking that he was the reason she was not living like her sisters....Such things never boded well for any kingdom, Satyavathi realized. But she did not know what to do. She could not just have Amba thrown out of Hastinapur....

It was because of this that Satyavathi was stunned the next day to find Princess Amba missing from her quarters. A quick search revealed that Princess Amba was nowhere to be found. Satyavathi realized that Amba had left them. But Satyavathi was too shrewd to know that this definitely was not good. If Amba had left that meant that she was going to explore other alternatives to get what she wanted. And with two people as determined and stubborn as Amba and Bhishma, 'the alternatives' could not be simple or easy....

************

Satyavathi was perfectly right in her assessment of Amba. Amba was no longer the innocent young girl whom Bhishma had brought to the kingdom of Hastinapur. She was now a woman with a mission. She was going to destroy Bhishma. It was because of him that she was now being ridiculed by everybody. It was because of him and his cursed vow that she would never know the pleasures of marriage or motherhood....The man had singlehandedly destroyed her and now Amba was going to return the favour....

Amba realized that she was not powerful or trained enough to fight and win against Bhishma and that she needed someone else. Someone else who was trained and powerful and who would be willing to fight for her. And so Amba set out. She traveled all over the kingdoms to implore the princes and the kings of the other kingdoms to fight against Bhishma for her.....But it was a task easier said than done. Everyone knew of the great Bhishma and no one......not one person was willing to stand up and fight against him.

Disgusted, Amba left for the forests. The pathetic humans are all afraid. None of them had the guts to stand up against Bhishma. The Devas were the only option I have....So she decided to turn to the Gods for help. She prayed to Lord Karthikeyan focusing all her hatred towards the penance. Lord Karthikeyan appeared before her within a surprising short time.

'Lord! I need someone to fight against that wretched Bhishma and win! I want that man dead!' Amba said with utter hatred in her heart. Lord Karthikeyan realized that Amba was so lost in her hatred that she was beyond redemption. He pulled out a garland of flowers which never withered and handed it over to her. 'Take this! Whoever wears this garland would be the one who would destroy Bhishma!'

Overjoyed Amba took the garland with her and this time asked the princes to wear the garland and fight Bhishma. But Amba should have known better. None of the princes felt confident enough to take on Bhishma even with the garland. Amba last approached the kingdom of Panchala which was ruled by King Drupad.

After King Drupad also refused to help her, Amba became thoroughly disillusioned and left the garland hanging outside his palace and went back to the forests....

************

A sage from the hermitage in the forest saw the regal lady getting ready for penance. The woman was beautiful....but her eyes....they looked...the sage shivered as he studied the lady, the eyes of the woman looked dangerous to say the least.

'My Lady! Who are you? What are you doing in this forest? You look like someone who has had a royal upbringing! What are you here for?' he went to her.

The lady frowned as she looked at the sage. The sage realized that the woman's face looked like it had lost the capacity to smile 'I want a man dead!' She said so simply that the sage was shocked. 'The wretched 'brave' kings and princes do not have the guts to stand up against him...I have realized that it is useless to rely on other people so I am going to pray to the Three-eyed Lord (Lord Shiva) for a boon to destroy him!' She continued.

As the woman spoke the sage realized that the woman was not someone who could be reasoned with. The woman was beyond all that. 'Who is this man?' The sage asked inspite of himself.

'BHISHMA!' The woman snarled as the sage looked appalled at the ferocious expression of her face.

Bhishma? The Kuru Bhishma? The sage wondered. No wonder the woman had found anyone to fight against him. The man was a legend. Why there was not one person....The sage suddenly blinked as he looked at the woman. 'My Lady!' The sage stammered. 'You could ask Lord Parashurama! Sage Parashurama is in a hermitage near mine! He hates all kings and warriors and he is a brilliant warrior...Why don't you....?'

'Where is he?' Amba was on her feet, her eyes shining with hatred even before the sage finished speaking.

Mutely the sage pointed as Amba thanked him and left the place, now filled with a new purpose.

*************

Amba went to the hermitage of Parashurama and told him the entire story. Sage Parashurama who was in fact Bhishma's teacher, decided that Amba was right and accepted to fight for her.

Amba accompanied with Parashurama went to the gates of Hastinapur....

'Come out Bhishma!' Parashurama bellowed outside the palace. The guards outside tried to calm down the furious sage but it was of no use. Bhishma heard the commotion and he came out. Seeing his teacher he rushed forward happily but stopped short when he saw the ferocious expression on his teacher's face. That was when Bhishma spied Amba standing beside the sage.

Taking a deep breath he went towards Parashurama. 'Welcome to Hastinapur! I....'

'I am not here to enjoy your hospitality or listen to your flattering words Bhishma!' Parashurama yelled. Bhishma said nothing as he watched the sage. 'I am here as a representative of Princess Amba! You have wronged her!' Sage Parashurama narrowed his eyes and said in an icy cold manner. 'The only way you can right the wrong done to her, is by marrying her!'

Bhishma took another deep breath to calm himself. 'Gurudev! I am bound by my vow! I cannot marry....'

'TAKE YOUR WEAPONS OUT!' Parashurama shouted pulling out his weapons. 'We fight!'

And so they fought. Sage Parashuraman and Bhishma fought as Amba watched the entire scene with bated breath. The battles was one of the most evenly matched and glorious fights ever. Anything that Bhishma was able to come up, Sage Parashuraman was able to counter and Sage Parashuraman was not able to put any past Bhishma's defences.

The battle lasted for a total of 23 days and in the full time neither side yielded an inch. Finally Bhishma pulled out his deadliest weapon and aimed the arrow at Parashuraman.

For a moment the world stood still.

Sage Narada and the other sages appeared before the two of them. 'You cannot use this weapon Bhishma! Using this weapon would cause the world to end! The world cannot end right now!'

Bhishma relaxed his hands on the bow. The sages turned to Parashuraman. 'This fight would not have any result. Please give it up!'

Finally Parashuraman realized that the fight could go on indefinitely without any result. He went to Amba. 'I am sorry! I cannot fight and win against him!'

Amba looked at him with tears in her eyes, 'But...!'

Sage Parashuraman shook his head. 'He is a powerful man! Our fight would not yield any result....I will talk to Shalva and ask him to....'

Amba gave Sage Parashuraman a withering look. 'I do not want your pity!' She turned and saw the proud and haughty Bhishma for the last time and then walked away from there without a backwards glance.

Amba followed her original plan. She decided to meditate and pray to Lord Shiva with the same determined and single minded hatred that she had developed over the years.

Lord Shiva appeared before her. 'My Lord! I want to destroy Bhishma!' Amba said without any preamble.

Lord Shiva who knew Amba's purpose smiled sadly at her. 'In your next life, you would be the reason of Amba's death!'

Amba looked angrily at the three-eyed God but did not say anything. Once the God vanished from there she looked furiously around...Next life? I cannot wait to destroy his life! I will end my life now and here! The sooner I end this life the sooner my next life starts...

The woman was so muddled with her hatred that she did not really mind ending her life. Without a second thought Amba killed herself....

********

King Drupad of Panchala had a daughter.

His daughter walked outside the palace as she watched a garland of fresh flowers which always hung outside palace. Looking at it she always felt so....odd.

One day unable to take it anymore, she pulled down garland. The minute she touched the garland, she felt dizzy. A wave of memories washed through her...Amba...Shalva....Satyavathi....her sisters....BHISHMA...All the emotions that Amba had, were fed into the girl. She looked around furiously. From that time till now, no one has had the guts to wear this. Disgusted the girl pulled it and wore the garland herself.

King Drupad who saw his daughter wear the garland was scared stiff. He knew the history of the garland. This girl would bring doom to the kingdom. By wearing the garland she had invited the wrath of Bhishma. If he attacks my kingdom, I may not be able to protect it...King Drupad decided that the only way he could protect the kingdom was to banish his daughter to the forest. Without a second though Drupad banished his daughter to the forests....

The girl roamed through the forests....That her father banished her did not bother her. The old passion and hatred was back in her eyes. How on earth can I fight with Bhishma now? How can I bring about his death....

The girl there met a yaksha. There with the blessings of the yaksha the girl was transformed into a man. The daughter now became a man – a man who wore the garland of non-withering flowers....He came to be known as Shikhandi....

Chapter 7 - Amba and Bhishma

Amba entered the Kingdom of King Shalva and happily went inside the Court of the King. She saw the king being treated for his injuries. She was about to go forward and talk to him, when his look stopped her. Shalva was looking at her with intense displeasure in his eyes. Before Amba could even understand what was going on, Shalva asked her coldly, 'What are you doing here?'

Amba looked bewildered. 'I told Bhishma that I loved you. When he heard that...' Amba smiled at how magnanimous Bhishma had been.... 'He sent a royal chariot with riches so that I could marry the man I loved....'

King Shalva looked angry and coldly at Amba, 'What makes you think I will marry you?'

Amba looked surprised and hurt and looked at King Shalva without understanding. King Shalva said haughtily, 'Bhishma took you by force from me. Do you think I will take what someone has given to me, after he had grabbed it from me...What sort of warrior do you think I am?'

Amba looked stunned and afraid. 'Shalva! What he did was without knowing that I loved you...If he knew that....he would never have....'

King Shalva looked furious. 'It does not matter to me, whether he did it knowingly or not....I lost you to him...' King Shalva said contemptuously. 'If anybody has the right to marry you, it is Bhishma...Go!' King Shalva angrily flicked his wrists. 'Go back to Bhishma and ask him to marry you! I do not wish to see your face again....'

Amba looked too stunned to speak. Numb with grief and stunned beyond words, her thoughts swirling, Amba slowly walked back to the chariot which had dropped her at Shalva's kingdom....

**********

Bhishma was waiting for the charioteer whom he had sent to drop PrincessAmba. He was a trusted charioteer and Bhishma was not worried. The thought of Princess Amba was what was worrying him....He had brought a woman without her permission. For a warrior of Bhishma's stature, that was an unforgivable crime. He knew he would not rest until he knew for a certainty that Amba was back where she belonged....

Probably deep down Bhishma felt that he had wronged Amba, or probably he had some inkling of something wrong happening, whatever the reason the normally calm Bhishma was restless. He waited for the charioteer to come...

After an agonizing wait, Bhishma's sharp ears heard the hooves of the horses entering the palace. Knowing that it could only be Amba's charioteer, Bhishma went outside the palace.

Bhishma was stunned and numb to find that not only had the charioteer returned, he had returned with Amba.

Numbly Bhishma registered the fact that Amba looked like someone had yanked the world from under her feet. She slowly staggered out of the chariot. She looked around her and saw everything and nothing. She walked as if in a trance. She focused her eyes as she saw Bhishma. She rushed forward and fell at his feet, sobbing unable to say anything.

Bhishma lifted her up and patiently waited for her to tell her everything. The princess's hands were shaking and her voice was trembling. Finally after a long time, she told Bhishma everything.

Bhishma looked aghast as Amba sobbed before him. 'I....I....' Bhishma was downcast wondering.... The suddenly his eyes brightened. 'I will speak to Vichitraviryan!'

And so Bhishma spoke to his younger brother. 'Please brother! Consider this! I brought Amba here along with her sisters Ambalika and Ambika. You have married Ambalika and Ambika. Please brother, marry Amba too!'

However for once Vichiraviryan refused to follow his elder brother. 'No brother! It is not correct!'

'But....'

Vichitraviryan raised his hands. 'Please hear me out! I know you bought Amba here for me! But she has already accepted Shalva as her husband! How can Imarry her now?....I do not think it is right!'

Bhishma pleaded with his brother some more, but Vichitraviryan was firm. Finally accepting defeat Bhishma went back to Amba and told her everything that had happened.

Amba was listening to everything with listless eyes. She was no longer interested in anything....

Bhishma was pacing the floor muttering to himself when he looked at Amba again. 'Shalva! I will speak to him!'

Before Amba could even register what Bhishma had said, Bhishma was out of the palace. He called his charioteer and made preparations to go to Shalva.....

*************

'Shalva! Please listen to me!' Bhishma was in the court of a furious Shalva. 'I took the princesses of Kasi for my brother. At that time, I did not know....that Princess Amba loved you!'

Shalva huffed angrily. Bhishma bristled and then controlled himself. 'She still loves you....please accept her as your wife!'

Shalva looked coldly at Bhishma. 'I loved Amba! I fought for her, and I lost....to you! What sort of a man do you think I am? Why should I accept someone I lost. If you are so concerned about her well being,' Shalva said scathingly. 'Why don't you marry her?'

Bhishma looked coldly at Shalva. He saw the firm mouth and realized that no matter how much he asked Shalva would never change his mind. Angrily he went back to Hastinapur.

*********

Bhishma told everything that had happened to Amba. As Bhishma finished, Amba took in a deep breath and looked coldly at Bhishma and spoke with hatred. 'There is no other choice! You have to marry me now!'