Storytelling Week 6: Amba, Queen of the Salwas

Read the updated version of this story on my Indian Epics Portfolio here: link.

Amba on Wikimedia

Bhishma had been overseeing King Vichitravirya as his regent since he was a boy. When the King came of age and was ready to marry, Bhishma went out and stole three princesses from far away, Amba, Ambalika, and Ambika. Since no one dared to fight Bhishma to win the princesses back, the three women went to live in Bhishma’s kingdom. The eldest, Amba, went in private to confess something to Bhishma. “Sir”, she said, “I am honored that you have chosen me to be a wife of your king. However, I must be honest with you and tell you that I have promised myself to wed King Salwa. It would not be honorable to marry anyone else.” So saying, Bhishma wished her well on her journey to the King of the Salwas.

Upon arriving at the gates of the Salwa city, Amba was immediately taken to meet with King Salwa and his advisors. Expecting the one she had promised herself to to be joyous at her appearance, Amba was surprised at the angry look she received from the King. He addressed her impersonally and harshly, “You have stepped foot into another’s palace. They have tried to wed you to another. I am mocked that Bhishma stole you. I could never take you as my wife.” Amba, shocked and enraged to hear this returned to Bhishma.

Bhishma was neither surprised nor angry to see that Amba had returned. Sensing trouble, he spoke to her directly. He asked why she had come back and what he could do to help her. Amba spoke frankly to Bhishma, “King Salwa made an oath to me that I would be made Queen of the Salwas. He did not give me a chance to explain myself. I was turned away in embarrassment. I ask that you help me defeat him so that I am made Queen as I was promised.” Bhishma believed Amba and agreed to help her in her endeavors.

Bhishma gathered some of his strongest men and traveled to the land of the Salwas. They easily breached the wall and made their way to Salwa’s palace. Salwa, who had been notified of Bhishma entering the city, tried to hide. He was unsuccessful and placed before Bhishma and his men. “King Salwa”, said Bhishma, “I have heard of your rejection of Amba. Is it true that you had promised her that you would marry her and that she would become Queen of the Salwas?” Too stunned to form words, Salwa nodded yes. “And is it true”, Bhishma continued. “that you sent her away in shame?” Again, Salwa nodded yes. Bhishma concluded, “Good, now I give you two options. You cede the kingdom to Amba today, or you will die."

Knowing that he could never defeat Bhishma in battle, and too cowardly to die trying, King Salwa ceded his kingdom to Amba, Queen of the Salwas. She was to be a goodly and just Queen until the end of her days.

Author’s Note: In the original version of the Mahabharata, when Amba is rejected by King Salwa, she blames Bhishma. She grows increasingly more bitter towards him and begins to plot a way to kill him. She loses her desire to groom herself and focuses solely on Bhishma. In my version, I made her return to Bhishma after her rejection. As it was Bhishma’s fault for stealing her away, it was not necessarily his fault that Salwa rejected Amba. So, returning to Bhishma, Amba is able to become a prominent ruler and live a life that she is happy with. In the original, she is sour until she dies by walking into a burning funeral pyre. Afterwards, she is reincarnated into the being that will defeat Bhishma. You can read the Mahabharata here: link.

Mahabharata. Public Domain Edition.