Now, prince Vichitravirya was growing up and her mother Satyavati was worried about his marriage. The king of Kashi had three very beautiful daughters, Amba, Ambika and Ambalika. The king of Kashi held a 'Swayamvar', (a practice where the bride could choose her husband), from among those participating in the ceremony. Bhishma went to the "Swayamvar" and took the princesses by force on his chariot and challenged the assembled princes and kings to stop him. They tried but were defeated by Bhishma. Bhishma went to Hastinpura with three princesses in his chariot. In the palace, he presented the princesses to her mother Satyavati and she embraced them and offerred them in marriage to her son Vichitravirya.

Amba, the eldest of the princess protested that she could not marry Vichitravirya.As before Bhishma arrived in the "Swayamvar" She was proceeding to garland the king of Salva, whom she had taken as her husband and therefore had become married to him. Shocked at their revelation, Bhishma sent her to the king of Salva with appropriate escort. But the king Salva refused to accept her as his bride. Salva said that as per the Shastras, she had to marry the one, who had won her in a fight. Thus spurned, she came back to Hastinapura and blamed Bhishma for her plight. Bhishma explained that at the time of Swayamvar she did not tell these things to him. Thus unaware of her resolve to marry Salva, he had brought her to Hastinapura. She had been a victim of a terrible fate. Not content, she asked Bhishma to marry her as it was he who had won her in the fight. Bhishma told her about his vow of celibacy he had taken before the father of Satyavati. He expressed his inability to marry her. After finding Bhishma unmoved, she left for the forest deeply hurt and feeling insulted.

In the forest Amba met several ascestics Rishis,All were moved to hear about her plight. Even Parashurama on her plea asked Bhishma to marry her. Bhishma refused and a fight between guru and his pupil ensued. Finally nothing came out of Amba's efforts and spurned from all sides, she became and ascestic and undertook severe penance. Ultimately the Lord of the lords, Shiva became happy and asked her to ask anything she desired. She asked for the death of Bhishma. Lord Shiva said that in the next birth she would be born in the house of Drupada, the king of Panchala, then she would kill Bhishma. Thereafter burning with the desire for her revenge, Amba lit a fire and threw herself in it. She was born as a daughter to Drapada but through the kindness of Yaksha she became a man named as Shikhandi. Now, Shikhandi grew up with a desire for revenge burning in her heart.