Revenge

REBIRTH

Drupad had no children so he did austerities in the forest seeking the blessings of Shiva for begetting a son. Shiva granted him the boon that a girl would be born to him, but will transform into a boy later.

As prophesied, Amba was reborn as Shikhandini, whose true gender was not disclosed and she was brought up as a boy.

"Putri Draupadi, today your sister is going to come here. Get ready soon and make the arrangements for her welcoming."

"Pitashree, what do you mean by my sister is coming? Do I have a sister? You never told me itself!"

"Putri... I can't tell you everything thing right now. Shikhandi is coming. He will tell you the whole story. Now go..go get ready soon."

Shikhandi arrives...

"Aray Draupadi.. I'm meeting you after a long time. How are you? Looks like you have become very gorgeous!"

"Oh brother! Don't start saying that again. Then how are you? Ah yes! I forgot to ask you something.... Actually pitashree was telling that one if my sister is coming. Hmmm...do..you have any guess... Who it might be???"

"Oh that matter... Actually Draupadi... I'm only your sister. Let me tell you my story. In my previous birth I was the Kashi princess Amba. I was in love with Salva. But unfortunately that Bheeshm kidnapped me for his brother's marriage. But when I actually told him about my love..with great respect he sent to to Salva. But unluckily he rejected me. I went back to Bheeshm and asked him to marry me, but he too rejected me because of his vow. I cursed him that I'll become the reason of his birth. I wandered here and there for justice... But I couldn't get from anyone. Finally due to my prayers to Lord Shiva, he granted me the boon of being born again as Shikhandi and in due time I would transform into a female and would be called Shikhandini. And in this birth I would be able to be the reason for that Bheeshm's death!"

"Oh my god! I cannot believe what you just said...so you are Amba??? God I'm really surprised!"

"Don't worry Draupadi.... Everything will be fine..."

Later when Drupad got his son married to the daughter of Hiranyavarna, the king of Dasharna, his true identity was revealed, not only to her father but also to Shikandini herself. The agitated Hiranyavarna declared war on Panchal. Distressed by the turn of events, Shikhandini went into the forest to fast unto death but was saved by a Yaksha (a forest deity), Sthunakarna, who helped her by offering his own gender in exchange to Shikandini's female gender. Thus Shikhandini became the male Shikhandi. After Hiranyavarna's death, Shikhandi returned to swap sexes with the Yaksha, however the Yaksha was cursed by his master the god Kubera to remain female until Shikhandi's death.

In the variant where the garland of ever-fresh lotuses is mentioned, Shikhandini wears the garland once and Drupada realizes that she will slay Bheeshm.