In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhishmachaarya continuing with his accord in explaining the history behind Shikhandi to Duryodhana. He explains how he had brought Kashi King’s three daughters, Amba, Ambika and Ambaalika to get them married off to King Vichitraveerya of Hastinapura. As he was on the way with these three girls, Amba confessed to him that she is in love with the king of Shaalva Desha and requested him to let her off. Subsequently as Bhishmachaarya obeyed, Amba went to the king of Shaalva Desha, only to be rejected by him, as she was in touch with the great Bhishmachaarya, who is invincible in a battlefield. Fearing consequences, the king of Shaalva Desha decided to move on and asked Amba to go back to Bhishmachaarya. Accordingly, when Amba came back, Bhishmachaarya now refused to accept her and she was shunted out in between both Bhishmachaarya and the King of Shaalva Desha. Finally as this was happening, Amba became terribly angry and went to Bhagawan Parasurama for help. Accordingly, Parasurama decided to take on Bhishmachaarya to prove his might against him. However, in a fierce battle that endured between both of them, none were able to succeed over each other. However, when Bhishmachaarya was about to employ a powerful “Asthra”, Sage Naarada intervened and stopped him from using it, as this would create a large-scale impact on the entire world. Obeying Sage Naarada’s words thus, Bhishmachaarya called truce with Parasurama and the war came to an end.
Moving on thus, as the war comes to an end, Bhishmachaarya and Parasurama become friends and they realize that they were foolish enough to fight with each other for no reason. Ultimately as truce is being called, Parasurama declares that Bhishmachaarya is the one who is the winner of this war! Subsequently, Parasurama meets Amba and conveys that Bhishmachaarya has won over him and there’s no way he can help her out at this moment. Raging with anger against Bhishmachaarya, Amba runs here and there for help. She finally goes to Bhagawan Shiva, who grants her a boon. Receiving the boon thus, Amba comes back and straightaway enters into the burning pyre to kill herself. Subsequently, in her next birth which is immediate after her death, she is once again born as a girl to King Drupada. We’ve seen that Draupati and Drishtadhyumna were born to King Drupada, but this girl whom we’re talking about was born before both of them. King Drupada names her as Shikhandi. Thus, we’ve to understand here that Shikhandi is none other than the daughter of King Drupada!
Subsequently, King Drupada is for a long time, wanting a son to be born to him, but did not happen for a while. Hence, King Drupada brings his daughter up like how a boy would have been brought up. Thus, over a period of time, Shikhandi develops an innate interest in being a male, even though she is female by birth. In fact, King Drupada even gets her married to King Hiranya Varma’s daughter, by falsely claiming to him that Shikhandi is a man! However, King Hiranya Varma comes to know of this lie post the marriage and gets frustrated with King Drupada for cheating his daughter’s life! Hence, King Hiranya Varma comes with a huge army and storms Drupada Desha. Unable to withstand King Hiranya Varma’s attack on all the four sides, King Drupada doesn’t know what to do, and he straightaway comes to Shikhandi for help. Thus, Shikhandi immediately goes and meets a “Yaksha”, seeking help. Shikhandi proposes thus, “For the moment, my kingdom is under siege because of a huge debate whether I’m a male or a female. If I’ve to save my father and my kingdom from imploding, I’ve to change my gender characteristics and appearance from being a woman to being a man. Hence, I request you to give me your male characteristics and take my female characteristics for a few days, until I come back to you!”
As Shikhandi asks for this help, the Yaksha immediately offers it to her. Thus, Shikhandi, who was originally a female by birth, now transforms into a male! Thus, Shikhandi makes “his” way to Drupada Desha and stands in front of King Hiranya Varma. Shikandi now proves that he is a male and there’s no point in fighting with King Drupada. Subsequently, as this happens, both the kings call off the war and the problem gets resolved. Now comes the twist in the story – As Shikhandi goes to meet the Yaksha once again to return back his male characteristics, he is nowhere to be seen! What happens next? Is Shikhandi going to get back “her” original female characteristics as agreed upon earlier? Let’s wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 