How many blame Bhishma for Amba? - Page 5

Angelina, I will talk based on original version. The point is Bhishma deserves to be blamed for his actions. Any number of points could be said about Dharma. But I will define Dharma in simplest terms. 'Live and let live.' is all that one has to follow. What is plain truth is Bhishma did something which the three princesses didn't like. Did anyone ask did those women like to marry Vichitraveerya? Contest or not - The custom calls for the woman to make her choice in a svayamvara. Damayanti chose Nala based on her love for him in a svayamvara.

I don't know if the competition was part of the swayambar or not in the original Vedbyas MB.

If competition was part of the swayambar, then no matter what, 3 sisters would have married the winner and not as per their liking. Draupadi stopped Karna in her Swayambar on the basis of his class, otherwise, she could not have stopped him. Otherwise, norm was that princesses had to marry the winner in the competition. I wonder how Shlava and Amba could have fixed their match already.

Bheesma violated the rule because Vichi himself should have won the 3 sisters and not sent someone else.

If competition was not part of the swayambar, then Bheesma definitely had violated the rules as he did not give the chance to the sisters to choose their husband.

So Bheesma's fault cannot be undermined.

Part of the responsibility lies on Amba too - she should not have been part of the swayambar if she had already chosen her husband because being part of the swayambar she was deceiving the other rulers.

Also, Amba herself knew the custom of the society. But still, she put a stake of her prestige and life and admitted her love for Shalva which was not necessary. She could have just shut her mouth and got married to Vichi.

Now what did the man do who claimed to have loved her and for whom Amba put so much at stake? Just threw her away from his life? Like Bheesma, Shalva has wronged Amba too! But Amba mainly concentrated on Bheesma as he created the situation.

In Bheesma's defence, one could say that he did give Amba the chance to marry according to her choice. He could not marry her for his vow but he was ready to accept any other punishment. Ganga warned him beforehand about Parashu's fight and told him to marry Amba, but he was ready to accept defeat in P's hand than break his vow.

And later, when he got an idea that Shikandi had been born as his nemesis, he did not try to create problem in the latter's path. In fact, in Kurukhestra, Bheesma could have refused to put down his weapons as everything is fair in war and in MB, unfair means were adopted by all the parties, even the Pandavas.

Originally posted by: doyelpakhi

I don't know if the competition was part of the swayambar or not in the original Vedbyas MB.

If competition was part of the swayambar, then no matter what, 3 sisters would have married the winner and not as per their liking. Draupadi stopped Karna in her Swayambar on the basis of his class, otherwise, she could not have stopped him. Otherwise, norm was that princesses had to marry the winner in the competition. I wonder how Shlava and Amba could have fixed their match already.

Bheesma violated the rule because Vichi himself should have won the 3 sisters and not sent someone else.

If competition was not part of the swayambar, then Bheesma definitely had violated the rules as he did not give the chance to the sisters to choose their husband.

So Bheesma's fault cannot be undermined.

Part of the responsibility lies on Amba too - she should not have been part of the swayambar if she had already chosen her husband because being part of the swayambar she was deceiving the other rulers.

Also, Amba herself knew the custom of the society. But still, she put a stake of her prestige and life and admitted her love for Shalva which was not necessary. She could have just shut her mouth and got married to Vichi.

Now what did the man do who claimed to have loved her and for whom Amba put so much at stake? Just threw her away from his life? Like Bheesma, Shalva has wronged Amba too! But Amba mainly concentrated on Bheesma as he created the situation.

In Bheesma's defence, one could say that he did give Amba the chance to marry according to her choice. He could not marry her for his vow but he was ready to accept any other punishment. Ganga warned him beforehand about Parashu's fight and told him to marry Amba, but he was ready to accept defeat in P's hand than break his vow.

And later, when he got an idea that Shikandi had been born as his nemesis, he did not try to create problem in the latter's path. In fact, in Kurukhestra, Bheesma could have refused to put down his weapons as everything is fair in war and in MB, unfair means were adopted by all the parties, even the Pandavas.

well said!

I agree that it was hypocritical of Amba not to blame Shalva even a bit, and to put the entire blame on Bhishma. If it was custom of those times not to marry a "tainted" woman, then it was also a custom to stick to one's vows. If Shalva was justified in refusing Amba, then Bhishma was also justified in giving more preference to his vow of celibacy.

I feel that Shalva was just as much to blame as Bhishma, but Amba was blinded by love and couldn't fault her beloved at all. It was hypocritical of her.

Originally posted by: swati2008

I think Bheesma is to be blamed...there was no competition in the swayambar...that means princess were to choose anybody they want...so going there uninvited and showing valor...i can't see any point actually...he broke the principles of swayambar...he let her to go to her love...but not before defeating the man infront of whole court...in that age it was quite an insult to any man...the fact is whatever Bheesma's intentions might be...as a result of his action a woman suffered...so he was at fault...

I agree with you but not just Amba, Ambalika Ambika also suffered they did not enjoy the family life life with their husbands

they suffered widowhood their entire young life because of Bheeshm's and his stupid ego

I don't blame bhishma, his justification was right aur wo hameesha dharam ka paripalan kartha hai..!!😊

Originally posted by: swati2008

I think Bheesma is to be blamed...there was no competition in the swayambar...that means princess were to choose anybody they want...so going there uninvited and showing valor...i can't see any point actually...he broke the principles of swayambar...he let her to go to her love...but not before defeating the man infront of whole court...in that age it was quite an insult to any man...the fact is whatever Bheesma's intentions might be...as a result of his action a woman suffered...so he was at fault...

There are both opinions blaming Bheeshma and not blaming him. One beauty of the epic is it may look everyone behaved in certain way which could appear is the right thing to be done. But unfortunately it is not right based on the Bhagawad Gita level and that is what caused the war and mass destruction. And what I learn is when I say what that person did is wrong, I am not to judge him but I have to learn the lessons from the way how the character behaved.

Now a question could be asked. Why Parasurama went on to persuade Bhishma to marry Amba but not Shalva or Vichitraveerya? We are told that Bhishma repeatedly requested Shalva and Vichitraveerya to marry Amba but they refused. Marriage could not be forced on them. Probably because they could ill treat the woman. But Parshu knows that Bhishma won't ill treat Amba if he married her. Because Bhishma was more disciplined and principled than the other two.