Eldest of three Kashi princesses (Amba, Ambika, Ambalika); kidnapped by Bhishma at the svayamvara as a wife for Vichitravirya. Revealed her prior love for Salwa, king of Saubha; Bhishma honorably released her; but Salwa rejected her as defiled by abduction, and Vichitravirya rejected her likewise. Returned to Bhishma demanding marriage; Bhishma's vow forbade; sent away. Sought revenge through Parashurama, who fought Bhishma in a 23-day stalemate-duel on her behalf and lost. Undertook twelve years of severe ascetic penance; pleased Shiva, who granted her the boon of becoming the cause of Bhishma's death in her next birth (since Bhishma's vow forbade fighting a woman). Self-immolated to enable the rebirth. Reborn as Shikhandini, daughter of King Drupada of Panchala (the same king whose later sacrifice produced Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna). Drupada raised her as a male per Shiva's prophecy. After her marriage to a princess of Dasharna led to the discovery of her female sex and threatened war, fled to the forest and exchanged sexes with the yaksha Sthuna; the exchange became permanent when Kubera cursed the yaksha to retain the female sex. On the tenth day of Kurukshetra, placed before Arjuna in the chariot to nullify Bhishma's vow against fighting one born female; Bhishma recognized Shikhandi as reborn Amba and lowered his bow; Arjuna shot from behind, pinning Bhishma to the bed of arrows. The Shiva-boon fulfilled. Killed by Ashvatthama on the eighteenth night during the sleeping-camp massacre.