Ambalika

Ambalika was a princess of Kashi and the younger daughter of King Uparichara Vasu. She is a prominent figure in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. According to the narrative, Ambalika was one of three princesses, the others being Ambika and Amba, who were won by Bhishma in a svayamvara. Bhishma had brought them to Hastinapur to be married to his visually impaired nephew, Vichitravirya.

During the svayamvara, Ambalika, along with her sisters, was abducted by Bhishma. While Ambika married Vichitravirya, Ambalika also became his wife. However, after Vichitravirya died childless, the lineage of the Kuru dynasty was at risk. To perpetuate the royal line, Ambalika, along with her sister-in-law Ambika, was instructed by their mother-in-law Satyavati to approach the sage Vyasa for the purpose of begetting children.

When Vyasa appeared before Ambalika, she was overcome with fear at his imposing appearance and closed her eyes. Consequently, the son born from this union, Dhritarashtra, was born blind. This act of closing her eyes is a significant event that has symbolic interpretations within the Mahabharata. Ambalika's story highlights themes of duty, destiny, and the consequences of actions within the complex narrative of the epic.