This episode of Mahabharata is one heck of a downer, so grab them tissues!
First Chitrangad the elder of Satyavati’s sons with Shantanu has his Awesome Moment of Crowning. But then his rule lasts an extremely short time, as he dies in battle to the Gandharva tribe. This battle isn’t shown, it is narrated by Time.
The younger brother Vichitravirya ascends to the throne. But because Bhishma somehow knows that he is just as weak as his dearly departed elder brother, Vichitravirya won’t be going anywhere to compete for a bride. Bhishma goes in his stead.
Tropes found here
- And Now You Must Marry Me: Played with. Bhishma kidnaps Amba, Ambaalika and Ambika so that Vichitravirya can marry them. Upon finding out that Amba is in love with some other prince, he sets her free. Ambaalika and Ambika agree to marry Vichitravirya. Amba is however rejected by her lover because Bhishma bested him. Amba then demands that Bhishma marry her since he kidnapped her, but because of his oath of celibacy, Bhishma refuses.
- Badass Boast: “Does anyone dare to try and stop Bhishma? DOES ANYONE DARE TO STOP ME!!?”
- Blood from the Mouth: Vichitravirya coughs up blood before he collapses.
- Compete for the Maiden's Hand: In this instance, three princesses, Amba Ambaalika and Ambika are up for grabs. All young princes except Vichitravirya are invited to attend.
- Cruel Mercy: The Shalva prince sees Bhishma leaving him alive as this. He feels that Bhishma releasing Amba to him is even crueler.
- Darkest Hour: Hastinapur is left with no king and no heir. Even during the Kurukshetra war, Hastinapur had a king and an heir.
- Defiled Forever: Amba feels this way and is treated this way. Since Bhishma defeated all other eligible princes to kidnap her, none of them will accept her now, because they were all “losers” and think themselves forever “unworthy” of her. This includes a prince who she had mutual affection for. And then because Bhishma wouldn’t marry her to restore her honor, she decides to commit suicide.
- Downer Beginning: Chitrangada’s death kicks off this episode.
- Downer Ending: In the end, Vichitravirya is also dead and Hastinapur is left with no king and no heir.
- Driven to Suicide: Amba does so,in order to resurrect as a man who will kill Bhishma.
- Genre Deconstruction: Amba dreams of Shalvakumar accepting her as yet another gift from Bhishma, who’d spared his life twice. However, she faces up to the harsh reality that love doesn’t conquer the shame of defeat for Shalvakumar.
- The Hedonist: Vichitravirya spends his days enjoying the finer things in life with Ambaalika and Ambika, instead of taking his Royal duties seriously. Unfortunately this leads to ..
- Incurable Cough of Death: One day, Vichitravirya starts coughing so hard he is too weak to even lift up his own crown. Then he collapses. Then the Royal Doctor says “bring some holy water” implying that he is moments away from death. The poem explicitly states tuberculosis as the cause of death.
- Improbable Aiming Skills: One arrow fired by Bhishma lops off the crowns of all princes attending the swayamvar.
- Killed Offscreen: Chitrangada dies in battle offscreen.
- Lovable Sex Maniac: Vichitravirya spends a very long time literally screwing around with Ambaalika and Ambika.
- Marry for Love: What Amba hopes to do with the Shalva prince. However, he refuses because of his pride.
- A Match Made in Stockholm: A possible reason why Ambaalika and Ambika marry Vichitravirya - they got nowhere else to go!!!
- Persona Non Grata: All princes from Hastinapur are banned from attending the swayamvar for Amba, Ambaalika and Ambika because Hastinapur rebuffed an earlier proposal between their current king’s sister and Bhishma due to his oath. Bhishma therefore storms the palace and kidnaps the three princesses for Vichitraviriya
- Pride: The Shalva prince’s ego is butthurt because Bhishma defeated him. He was even more butthurt that Amba was released to him, considering it the kind of “charity” one would give a beggar.
- Wedding Smashers: Bhishma barges in, shoots the crowns off all other princes in attendance and outright dares anyone to try and stop him.
