Scene 1
Vichitraveerya marries the two Kashi princesses Ambika and Ambalika, as Queen Satyavati and Bhishma look on happily.Physicians begin their treatments on the Prince. Special prayers are offered at various temples for the speedy recovery of the prince.
Scene 2
Queen Satyavati is seated on the throne and is flanked by Bhishma. Amba stomps into the assembly, demanding justice.
Amba
: Does anybody know here about dharma? Do such people still live here?
Satyavati
: Who are you, woman? Hastinapur is a land of dharma. What complaint do you bring here?
Amba
: I am Amba, the princes of Kashi.
Satyavati
(sarcastically): Oh you are that woman who spurned the throne of Hastinapur and went seeking your lover!
Amba
: That was past. Let's talk of the future now.
Satyavati
: Of course! You said there is no dharma here. Why so?
Amba
: Is it the dharma in your country that totally unconnected people barge into swayamvarams like a dog entering a sacrificial hall and take away the brides?
Satyavati
: Taking away a bride forcefully in a swayamvaram is in accordance with the Kshatriya dharma. You are a Kshatriya girl. You should know that.
Amba
: Is Kshatriya dharma over and above the humanitarian dharma? Does the Kshatriya dharma ignore or override the dreams, aspirations and love of girls? Let Bhishma who stands here like the god of dharma speak up.
Satyavati
: Dharmatmas never speak.
Amba
: Why, only sinners (papatma) like you can speak then?One of the ministers caustically reminds Amba that she is speaking to the Queen and must show respect.
Satyavati
: Your sisters are getting married to my son. Go bless them and partake of the feast now.
Amba
: I was born a princess and live like a princess, and not like you who became a queen overnight by turn of mere luck!
Bhishma
: You are crossing all borders of civility and talk disrespectfully about Hastinapur's queen.
Amba
: Yes, I am criticizing not only her, but you as well.
Bhishma
: What fault did you find in my actions?
Amba
: You took a false oath of celibacy, entered swayamvaram hall and dragged the girls with your hands! You are a deceitful poseur.
Bhishma
: A Kshatriya has the right to participate in Swayamvarams. When I knew of your love for King Shalwa, I sent you back. Only you know why he didn't accept you.
Amba
: Control your tongue! You don't get to decide who I should fall in love with. Bheeshma, what verdict do you give me now?
Bhishma
: Ask your conscience now. Hastinapur never sends back the girls they bring as captives. Either they go to the king's inner chambers or go the slave quarters. You decide where you want to go.
Amba (furiously lungs at Bhishma's throat)
: Control your tongue! You are asking me to go to the slaves' quarters? You are ignorant of dharma! Your being alive is a sin.
Bhishma
: Take her out of this court!
As the guards take Amba away, she screams '"Bheeshma!! Your death lies in my hands. I am going to kill you. History will say one day that Bheeshma was killed by Amba. Your death will be through me alone. Your death will be through me alone. "
Scene 3
Amba staggers through forests, through hard terrains and through rain and blazing sun. She finds a sculpted image of Lord Subramanya (Murugan) under a tree and sits down in meditation.
Murugan appears before her and asks what she wanted as a boon. Amba says she wants Bhishma killed.
Murugan offers her a garland and says whoever wore the garland would kill Bhishma. She needs a man to fight Bhishma, as Bhishma would not fight a woman.
Armed with the garland, Amba approaches various kings and seeks their assistance to kill Bhishma. Despite the boon she has got from the god, nobody offers her a helping hand. Everyone is scared of Bheeshma's might and god-like stature.
Amba goes to Panchala. The king receives her affectionately calling her his daughter, but when he comes to know she wants his help only to kill Bhishma and take revenge, he advises her against adopting such an extreme attitude. Once again, Amba walks away.
Scene 4
Vichitraveerya is receiving treatment from physicians. It is six months now since the treatment began. Queen Satyavati, accompanied by her maid, pays a visit. She has been offering special prayers, and has is totally oblivious to food or other comforts. She tells that she has arranged for the Prince's first night, under the assumption he would recover by then.The physicians assisting the chief physicians express the fear that the first night itself could turn out to be the final night, as the increased blood pressure resulting from the conjugal union might affect the brain. As it was the prince's pulse was erratic and only god's grace could save him.
Vichitraveerya has come back to the palace. Sitting in his private chambers, he broods over what the doctors and his mother said. He decides that he would risk his life for the sake of his mother and his country. He would live and enjoy life like a brave man. That would be better than living in fear and self pity.
Scene 5
Amba reaches the same spot where she had worshipped Lord Subramanya and obtained the garland. Dejected that no one was man enough to take up the challenge and disappointed that Lord's boon had borne her use, she puts back the garland around the Lord's spear ('Vel').As she turns back, she meets the rajaguru of Kashi. The Guru says her father understands her anguish and pain, but is unable to respond to her for fear of alienating Bhishma. In private, he is grief-stricken and is unable to eat or sleep. Which is why her father had sent him to help Amba.
As Amba describes her experiences, the guru asks exactly what boon she had asked Lord Subramanya. He explains to her that she hadn't worded the boon properly: she had vaguely asked that Bhishma should be killed and had not specified a time frame in which it should occur. Nor had she said that she should kill him. Her boon would work exactly the way it should: Bhishma would be killed by somebody who wears the garland.
Amba asks Lord Subramanya for forgiveness. The guru then advises her to go to Sage Parasurama, who had taken up a war against erring Kshatriyas. He also said Bhishma had a special regard for his guru and would do anything he advised.
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