Amba, reborn as Shikhandini, the daughter of Drupada, was born to fulfil her revenge against Bhishma.
Her birth prophesied that she would live her life as a woman for a period of time and would later turn into a man. Drupada thus raised Shikhandini as Shikhandi, a boy, and she was wedded to the daughter of Hiranyavarman.
Soon, Shikhandi’s wife realised that Shikhandi was not a man. King Hiranyavarman, angered by how Drupada had deceived them, waged a war against Drupada.
Saddened by her parents’ problems, Shikhandini built a funeral pyre to commit suicide in the forest. A Yaksha named Stunakarna came across her and enquired about her.
After hearing Shikhandini’s plight, Stunakarna offered to exchange genders for a period of time, and they exchanged their gender.
Shikhandini became a man, and Stunakarna became a Sthuni, a woman.
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This story is a part of my published book, Epic Tales with Samrudhi.
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