Shikhandi: Amba Reborn
Amba reborn. Bhishma will not loose a weapon on him. Arjuna shoots from behind that refusal.
Also called Shikhandini
Who Shikhandi is
Shikhandi is Drupada’s child, born Shikhandini, later Shikhandi. The recitation says this is Amba, who was taken from her swayamvara, refused by the man she had chosen, and refused again by Bhishma because of the vow.
Bhishma has said he will not loose weapons on a woman, or on one who was a woman. On the tenth day Shikhandi stands in front. Arjuna shoots from behind that refusal. The grandsire falls. If you need to know why an unconquerable man can be hit, this is why.
Names and spellings
Canonical name in this graph: Shikhandi. Common Mahabharat spellings and titles stay in the aliases rather than being repeated in every heading.
Parents
Spouses
In the recitation
- Devavrata — Bhishma will not shoot; Arjuna does
Narrative role
Adi Parva — Amba Bhishma takes three Kashi princesses for Vichitravirya. Amba tells the hall she had chosen the king of Saubha. She is let go. Neither man will have her. She vows Bhishma’s death.
The birth in Panchala Drupada wants a son who can kill Bhishma. The child who comes is this one. The later change of body is the epic’s own account, not a footnote.
Day 10 The chakra has already been raised and lowered. Shikhandi rides in front. Bhishma will not shoot. Arjuna does. The bed of arrows is the rest of Bhishma Parva.
How Shikhandi is related
How is Shikhandi related to Devavrata? The refusal and the fall. Amba’s unfinished marriage is the weapon, not a sword Shikhandi has to swing alone. Devavrata
How is Shikhandi related to Arjuna? The bow behind the screen. The tenth day is their joint act. Arjuna
How is Shikhandi related to Drupada? Father who wanted a son for this one death. Dhrishtadyumna is the other fire-born child, meant for Drona. Drupada
How is Shikhandi related to Draupadi? Sister. Panchala’s two answers to the Kuru gurus stand in one house. Draupadi
Source notes
Mahabharata text (Adi Sambhava; Bhishma Parva), Ganguli. The Amba–Shikhandi identity is the epic’s; this page does not flatten it into a single modern category. Last reviewed 12 September 2026.
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