Amba Mata Katha – Chapter 4: Shikhandi's Role in the Mahabharata

The Role of Shikhandi in the Mahabharata

In the previous chapter, we heard the story of Amba's severe penance and her rebirth as Shikhandi. Amba's sole aim was to avenge the insult she suffered from Bhishma Pitamah. Now, destiny had brought Shikhandi into the Mahabharata war, where she had to fulfill the most important task of her life. In the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Shikhandi's role was not just that of a warrior, but a medium for the fulfillment of Amba's resolve.

The War Trumpet and Shikhandi's Arrival

The battlefield of Kurukshetra was echoing with the roars of warriors and the sounds of chariots. Shikhandi stood on the battlefield alongside Arjuna. The fire of Amba's insult blazed in her mind, and the firm resolve to defeat Bhishma burned in her eyes. Arjuna understood Shikhandi's mental state and comforted her, knowing that this war was not just a display of strength, but also a sacrifice for the establishment of dharma and justice. Shikhandi looked at the flag on her chariot, on which Amba's symbol was depicted, which gave her strength and courage.

Shikhandi said to her charioteer, "Charioteer, take my chariot towards Bhishma Pitamah. Today, Amba's resolve will be fulfilled." The charioteer sped up the chariot, and Shikhandi slowly reached in front of Bhishma Pitamah. A thought came to her mind, "Will I be able to defeat this great warrior? Will Mother Amba's blessings remain upon me?" Then she remembered her past, and her resolve became even stronger.

The Fall of Bhishma Pitamah

On the tenth day of the war, Shikhandi, along with Arjuna, came before Bhishma Pitamah. As soon as Bhishma saw her, he laid down his weapons. He had taken a vow that he would not strike a woman, and Shikhandi was a woman in her previous birth. Arjuna took advantage of this opportunity and, placing Shikhandi in front, showered arrows upon Bhishma. Bhishma's body was pierced with arrows, and he fell from his chariot. Gangaputra Bhishma, who had observed celibacy his entire life, was defeated by the hands of Amba's rebirth.

Amba had bestowed that strength upon Shikhandi through her penance, which enabled her to become the cause of Bhishma's fall. This was the fruit of Amba's years of penance and resolve. Amba's soul, through Shikhandi, was establishing justice. She saw how Bhishma was suffering the consequences of his actions, and Amba's heart was filled with peace.

Shikhandi: Merely an Instrument

After Bhishma Pitamah lay on his bed of arrows, the tide of the war turned in favor of the Pandavas. Shikhandi's task was complete; she was merely an instrument, a tool for Amba's justice. In the coming chapter, we will see how Yudhishthira establishes dharma and how Amba attains liberation from her karma. The battlefield of Kurukshetra was about to usher in a new era.