After reaching Saubala, Amba asked Shalva to marry her but he refused saying that another man had won her and she belonged to him even after she pleaded him. Heartbroken Amba returned back to Hastinapur, Bhisma then asked Vichitravirya to marry her but he rejected her saying she was in love with someone else.
After hearing his rejection, Amba asked Bhisma to marry her but due to his vow of celibacy, he refused to marry her too. Amba fuming blamed Bhisma for her condition wanted revenge against Bhisma.
Amba left Hastinapur and convinced other Kings to fight Bhisma but everyone refused to help her. With no other option she went to Parashurama, the guru of Bhisma and narrated the events to him and he vowed to help her. Parashurama summoned Bhisma to Kurukshetra and after he arrived, Parashurama told him that as he abducted Amba it is his duty to marry her, but he denied saying he had taken a vow of celibacy. Enraged Parashurama threatened Bhisma that he would kill him, and this led to a duel between Parashurama and Bhisma as it was his Kshatriya dharma.