The text is a dialogue from an epic story, likely from the Indian epic Mahabharata. It revolves around the character Bheeshma, who is the adopted brother of King Shantanu of Hastinapur. Bheeshma is renowned for his vow of celibacy and his role as a wise advisor to the Kuru dynasty.
The story begins with King Shantanu, who is suffering from a curse that prevents him from fathering a healthy son. He prays to the sage Vasishtha for a son. Vasishtha advises Shantanu to perform a sacrifice at a sacred place where he will meet a Brahmin woman who will bear him a healthy son. Shantanu performs the sacrifice and meets Satyavati, who agrees to marry him on the condition that she will decide who the children will marry.
Satyavati, who is the wife of Shantanu, gives birth to two sons, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. After Shantanu's death, Satyavati decides to marry her sons to the daughters of King Vasu of Kashi, Satyavati's brother. Bheeshma, however, is against this plan and suggests that Vichitravirya should marry the daughters of King Kashi.
Bheeshma's suggestion is accepted, and Vichitravirya is made king. However, he does not reign for long and is killed in battle. Satyavati then decides to marry her other son, Chitrangada, to Vichitravirya's widow, Ambika.
The story then shifts to the court of King Shalva of Kashi. Three of his daughters, Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika, are about to choose their husbands. Amba chooses Bheeshma, but he rejects her because of his vow of celibacy. Ambalika then chooses Vichitravirya, but he is already married to Ambika. Bheeshma takes revenge by abducting Amba and bringing her to Hastinapur.
Amba then challenges Bheeshma to a game of dice. If he loses, he must marry her. Bheeshma, however, wins the game and Amba leaves Hastinapur, vowing to seek revenge. The story ends with Bheeshma reflecting on the consequences of his actions and the curse that will fall on Hastinapur due to Amba's vow of revenge.
1. Bheeshma, a key figure in the Mahabharat, tries to console Shantanu but fails due to his guilty conscience.
2. Bheeshma hands over his sons, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya, to Shantanu but dies shortly after.
3. Bheeshma makes Chitrangada the king but he does not reign long and is killed in battle with a Gandharva chief named Vichitravirya.
4. Bheeshma then makes Vichitravirya the king with great pomp and show.
5. The Kashi king's daughters, Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika, are to choose their husbands but Hastinapur's king is not invited to the event.
6. The Kashi king proposes that Vichitravirya of Hastinapur should marry the princesses as a means of extending their lineage through matrimonial alliance.
7. The Kashi king's daughters choose Vichitravirya as their husband, leading to a change in the royal lineage.
8. The Kashi king's daughters, Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika, are abducted by Bheeshma from Kashi and brought to Hastinapur.
9. Bheeshma refuses the proposal of the Kashi king's daughters to marry his brothers Chitrangada and Vichitravirya.
10. The Kashi king's daughters vow to seek revenge on Bheeshma for the insult.
11. Bheeshma's mother, Satyavati, mourns the death of her sons and feels helpless as she has no one left to serve and protect.
12. Bheeshma is caught in a dilemma between fulfilling his oath to serve and protect the Kuru clan and his promise to his mother to marry the princesses and continue the Kuru lineage.