Amba , the eldest princess of Kashi was an ideal princess and born queen .She was a curious stubborn soul with gait of lioness. She upheld righteousness , spoke her mind fearlessly and took care of her subjects wholesomely . She was a bold beauty with brains and heart. The pride of Kashi. She never wanted power , jewels or love . The thing she craved most was respect and loyalty .

Even having such a capable princess, king of Kashi wasn't very happy . Blame the patriarch mindset of him & if not it, then the death of his beloved wife during labour of Ambika & Ambalika. He knew he was being unjust but he couldn't help it. And coming to Amba , she was the exact copy of her mother in behaviour and attitude which always reminded the King of his late wife. To avoid remembering her , he avoided Amba. They always had a curt relationship of respect but deep in heart, the King admired his daughters ; Amba for her queenly stance, Ambika for her calculative brain and Ambalika for her beauty. He knew they would be great queens and wives , for which he arranged a grand swayamvar for them. Only if he knew that this swayamvar would be far from what he had thought.

13 years later

Swayamvar, a ritual , a tradition where a woman chooses her husband according to her wish ; has now turned into powerplay in Aryavrat and the woman a victory trophy. But I became a victim than a trophy. A victim of this patriarch society. A victim of men's greed & vengeance.

13 years back my life was different. I was a honoured princess , a worthy queen not an ascetic. Not that I mind being a ascetic . This life has given me more independence than I had being a princess . But that doesn't change the fact that I was humiliated and insulted because of those so-called powerful men. I hate three of them; my father for his order and lack of competence in protecting me , Shalva for being highly egoistic, patriarch and rejection and Bhishm for abducting , humiliating and rejecting me in name of his dharma. The last one takes the first place in my hatred list.

I hate my father for never being there yet commanding me to choose Shalva as my king . Y? Bcoz Shalva's father was a enemy of Bhishm & enemy's enemy is a friend.

I followed my father's order to marry Shalva because that's what daughters do right , follow their father's order blindly but what that lead to ? Me getting rejected by that good for nothing Prince and that lowlife Vichitravirya. Not that if he would have accepted me , I would have married him. Never. Bhishm, came like a lion , roared and conquered. He was the one who won the swayamvar , so technically he should be the one marrying me but no.... He came like a storm and pushed my life in ruination.

There my destroyer is leaving a life of luxury as a slave and I being independent am living in atrocities. All because of him. I hate him. So so so hate him. And am adamant to teach him a lesson . & the world knows when Amba decides something , none can change it.

In these 13 years , I have never for once let the fire of vengeance subside . That Bhishm, so called dharmi has done the biggest adharm and needs to be punished. I still remember how I reached Bhagwan Parshuram with the help of my Matamaha Hotravahan to seek justice. At first he didn't believe me but then when he heard it from Bhishm , I saw anger and disappointment in his eyes . Anger for ruining my life and disappointment in Bhishm . He decided to fight for me & actually fought with his favourite disciple for 23 days . At the end of 23rd day, when both Bhagwaan Parshuram and Bhishm launched two extremely powerful divyastras ; Mahadev's trident appeared in the nick of time to dissuade the divyastras. He ordered both of them to give up the fight as it's harming the universe & explained me that Bhishm can't be killed due to his boon but I can become the reason of his death when the time comes. Till then he asked me to perform austerities , calm myself and think wisely for a boon . His exact words were

" Amba , what happened with u was unjust but what u are seeking is unrighteous too. Revenge is unrighteous and justice righteous. If u seek justice , I the destroyer of the three world , promise to provide it to u. But the path for justice isn't easy . U would have to perform austerities in the name of Goddess Shakti. When she's pleased by u , she will give u a boon . A boon that would not only ensure justice to u but to entire human race . Till then , calm urself and think positive o' dear daughter ."

His fatherly words and presence soothed me and are still a balm to my wounds . I, as a child had always considered him as my father so I had to abide by him .

For the past 12 years I have been performing austerities in hope of justice. Although I haven't got justice yet but still I earned things, I never thought I would have . First & foremost is knowledge . Knowledge of Vedas , Upanishads and medicine. I feel free like this , free from shackles of expectations , conduct and rules . People respect me for who I'm and not for my father's name or status. During austerities I have earned self control and resistance to materialism. I have visited several places, learned from great scholars and performed austerities standing in ice-cold on toes even in winter with just a leaf as a meal in whole day. I never imagined this life but ...It hurts to not have anyone to talk to , to be forgotten , to be humiliated ....in this valley of Ganga I feel defeated....It feels the fire in which I want to burn Bhishm is burning me instead. Sometimes death seems easier.

Although austerities have calmed me but those memories have never for once stopped haunting me ....

For once I just want to live a normal life , forget everything and breathe freely but it seems impossible now......

Amba, a woman with determination of steel and destructive fire within , stubborn than wolverine and fierce than lion . I have seen her suffer all these times , all these years but now it's time to lessen her grief . To provide her relief from the fire she is burning in .

Amba: For once I just want to live a normal life , forget everything and breathe freely but it seems impossible now......

Nothing is impossible Amba..Not until u give up..

Oops...I got her startled. Gobsmacked , shocked , astonished!! Oh Mahadev y do people behave like this ?? They call us & when we appear before them, look at us like we are aliens...

Amba's eyes have teared up . I can feel gratefulness and relief coursing through her ... relief she has never felt. She bows to me ..

Mata? Greetings o' Goddess of the three worlds. I'm beyond ecstatic by your presence o' mighty mother . After all these years of hard austerities u decided to grace me with ur presence ...I ..I ..I don't know what to say ... to do...( Tears flowing)

Misery and ecstasy are such powerful feelings which often render u speechless. I can feel her ecstasy & her gratitude

Amba , I'm pleased by your hard austerities and want to bless u but before that I want to talk to u...

With that being said I descend on earth in human form and smile at Amba . She is the woman whose fire would light the coming generations..her sufferings and misery has turned her into a stone-hearted person just like my other daughter....& now being a mother it's my duty to soothe both of them...I move towards Amba and engulf her in my warm embrace hoping to provide some relief to her raging soul. She instantly begins to sob. I'm not astonished , doesn't matter how strong one pretends to be , a mother's embrace always dissolves the strongest of pretences.

Devi Shakti: It's ok !! Let it go ..Let all of your pain flow out . U don't need to pretend in my presence o' precious.

(Amba sobs hysterically )

Amba: Y me ? Y me mata? Y me?? Y did they reject me? Was I so bad ? What was my fault ? I didn't decide to be objectified , y me mata? Y ? Was I wrong in my wish in choosing my groom? Wasn't it their fault? Then y am I suffering ? Y mata?

Devi Shakti: Nobody rejected u Amba . Destiny rejected them for u. They weren't worthy of u . Not even Bhishm. U aren't bad and don't even think low of urself . U weren't at fault . It's the society who has objectified women and forgot the very basis of swayamvar. They're at fault & they will suffer . Karma spares none. & Coming to ur suffering , everything happens for a reason daughter.

I know u prayed to me for the past 12 years in order to seek justice and be the reason for Bhishm's death ..... But tell me would his death give u peace ? Return u ur dignity & honour? ......The answer is No!! It would only increase ur bloodthirst juz like it did with me . Vengeance never stops. Once started it drags everyone in it. Moreover , Y do you want to be the reason of someone's death when u can be reason for people's smile? Y don't u live for urself ? Y don't u live to save lives and impart knowledge?

I can see the wheels in her brain spinning ,

U have already proved the society that a woman doesn't need a father's , brother's or husband's support to survive. U have survived all these years independently , all alone. Created a place and name as an ascetic for urself then y do u want to let all ur hardwork & austerities go in drain for a man not worthy of it? Do u really think Bhishm is worthy of all the these things u have done?

Lemme answer that for u ..No!! & Even u know it .

Destiny is a cruel thing Amba but society is more cruel. No matter who is wrong they would always blame the weaker section & currently women are the weakest of all. But u challenged them , tried to change it and got successful in proving the world that men can be wrong , punished for their deeds. The summon of Bhishm by Lord Parshuram on ur account was enough proof of who's wrong and who's right. I know how much it initially hurt u to hear something from common folk but with time everyone has somehow accepted that u weren't wrong .Ur fire for vengeance has brought a change in perception Amba . They now accept u as an ascetic , revere and respect u . I know ur pain , misery and sufferings Amba & I want to wipe it ...(holding Amba's hand)

Being a Goddess I'm bound to give u a boon of ur choice but being a mother I expect u to trust me and allow me to give u a boon befitting u , a boon that will not only bring ur honour back but create a better place for the human race .

I hereby provide u two options Amba :

either u choose what u want as boon or trust me to provide u my boon & I assure u , my boon might take time but would be worth all ur wait .

Strange how people think God provides u solution but the truth is God always provides u paths ...the correct path will lead to victory & wrong to misery ...

Here I'm at crossroad to decide my future ....

For the past 12 years, I have only thought about Bhishm and my revenge & never for myself ...The questions mata asked are relevant. Would killing him bring me peace & happiness? No...then ....

I look at Mata to see her looking expectantly at me ...

Mata , this word seemed foreign to me after mother's death . I had no one to care , love or guide me and I always complained to Mahadev about this . Now look at my destiny , I have been bestowed with the presence of Mata Adi Shakti, her love , care & guidance .

True my vengeance against Bhishm would never subside but my vengeance isn't greater than Mata's expectation.

My mother, when alive, always said one can choose well for oneself but it's only God who can choose the best for us . When at crossroad follow ur soul & conscience because they are connected to the Almighty & will help u emerge victorious.

And now I know what I have to do...

I look at Mata and pass a smile

Amba: All these years of vengeance haven't provided me anything but pain . The mere thought of living a life of independence , helping others is tranquility at its finest . I accept ur wish O' Almighty Mother. I accept to wait for ur boon and help others in the meantime. I accept this ascetic Amba .

A glimpse at Mata tells me how pleased she is with my decision...& now I know that I won't ever regret it .

Devi Shakti: I'm pleased by u Amba and I hereby provide u with the boon of eternal youth . Ur faith in me won't be wasted. Set urself free from vengeance and alight the fire of change in u . Live ur life the way u wanted with respect & loyalty. Remember Amba , But never let the fire for change in u subside. Ur fire will guide the lightbringer , never allow it to diminish.

Move to the northern part of Mahendragiri Hills and practice austerities with ur Matamaha Hotravahan ( maternal Grandfather). Increase ur knowledge and impart it. When the time will come by boon would itself reach u . Bless u , daughter.

The lightbringer?? Fire for change? Huh??

I join my hands to seek her blessings. Although I don't understand what she said but I will follow it. I will now live for myself...my life on my own strength and conditions. No more pressure. No more stress. No more Bhishm. Juz me and my happiness .

Back in Kailash

Seated royally on his snow diwan with Shakti ,

Mahadev: This is interesting and tranquil. Atleast for once Amba decided to live for herself and not burn in the pyre of revenge . The first change has happened let's see what u do next priye....

I did nothing Dev .. I provide her options & she chose her fate.

Ever thought what would have happened if she hadn't agreed for this...

Dev we women always have plan B ...If she hadn't then someone else would have been choosen.

May I know who?

Who would be better than ur student Dev?

Parshuram ?

yup

Women are far sighted with good choices.

obviously we have good choice , otherwise how would we shop Dev?😎

in whispering voice) shopping 😨.. trouble... solution?🤔 Meditation!😌

Dev u know last time I shopped 😯...( Looks at Shiva to see him in deep meditation) uffo Dev..U really had to mediate now ...tsk..hmph!!😤 Fine ...

I will plan for next part of the tale & won't share with u . Hm!!

(in mind) U can't stay without sharing every it-bit about ur day & u won't share ur plans of change hm!! ....Max to max 6 hours then u would come and say it all by urself . Oh!! My dear naive wife I know you well , too well.

Precap: Birth of Suryaputra

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