Amba Ambika Ambalika

Mahabharata Adiparva Sambhavaparva section 100-107

Sri Sadgurbhyoh namah

Satyavati had two sons from Santanu, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Chitrangada was made King after Santanu. He conquered all the earth. He was challenged by a Gandharva named Chitrangada and they fought for 3 years in Kurukshetra. In that battle Chitrangada, son of Santanu died. Then Vichitravirya was made King.

King of Kasi had three daughters, Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika. He declares a swayamvara (marriage by choice of bride) and invites all the kings of the land for that swayamvara.

Bhishma goes to that Swayamvara and grabs them forcefully, declaring that for a king it is permitted under religion to do so and whoever wants to fight with him they are free to do so. All the assembled kings fight with him, and having been defeated by the valor of Bhishma, they applaud him and go away.

Amba tells Bhishma that she has given her heart to King of Saurbha before. So Ambika, and Ambalika were given in marriage to Vichitravirya and Amba is given the choice to go her own way.

Vichitravirya and his two wives were living happily when he is diagnosed with a deadly disease and dies prematurely without a son and heir to kingdom being born.

Satyavati says to Bhishma, that in such situations it is permitted under religion for a brother to produce children from a dead brother's wife to continue the line.

Bhishma says "I have taken a vow of Brahmacharya, Truth is far superior to anything. I will stand by my word. But there is a way to this problem. In ancient days when Parasu rama, son of Jamadagni exterminated all Kshatriya clan, the Kshatriya women went unto the rishis to continue their line. Hence we can also request a Rishi to continue this Kuru race".

Satyavati agrees to this and tells Bhishma that she has an illustrious son named Krishna Dwaipayana a.k.a Veda Vyasa, who is a rishi, and also a brother of Vichitravirya, who is son of Rishi Parasara, and took to renunciation at birth. Vyasa told his mother that he will come to her when she needs help. Saying this Satyavati remembers Sage Vyasa. He appears before her immediately. She apprises him of the situation and asks him to continue the Kuru race by bestowing children on Ambika and Ambalika. To this Vyasa agrees.

He goes to the chamber of Ambika to bestow children through her womb.

Vyasa was of dark countenance and grim visage with black matted hair and blazing eyes due to severe austereties.

Ambika closes her eyes with fear without looking at him. Vyasa tells his mother that Ambika will have a child with strength equal to 1000 elephants but because his mother closed her eyes, he will be born blind.

When Vyasa goes to Ambalika's chamber , she becomes pale with fear by looking at him. Vyasa tells his mother that the child thus born will be pale in colour and will be known as Pandu (Pale).

Satyavati requests Vyasa to bestow a third child. Amba and Ambalika out of fear send their slave maid to his chamber. She salutes him , and pays respect to him. Vyasa declares that she is no more slave and a child born to her will be wise and intelligent and brother to the children born to Amba and Ambalika.

My commentary :

The custom of one brother marrying the widow of a dead brother is still prevalent in some parts of north india.