Amvālikā (Amvalika) is the daughter of the king of Kāśī (Kasi), she was the youngest among his three princes. Bhīṣma took by force the three daughters of the Kāśī — Amvā (Amva), Amvikā (Amvika) and Amvālikā, from their Svayamvara-sabhā (Swayamvara-sabha; an assembley where the bride chooses her own groom), in order to to get them married to Vicitravīrya (Vichitravirya), his younger brother. Amvā, the eldest princess, refused to accept Vicitravīrya as her husband, but Amvikā and Amvālikā gladly tied the knot with him. They got married with a grand ceremony at the palace of Hastināpurā (Hastinapura).

Seven years after the marriage, Vicitravīrya died of tuberculosis, without leaving a child. At first Satyavatī (Satyavati) requested Bhīṣma to produce sons out of the womb of Amvikā and Amvālikā. But Bhīṣma vowed to remain a celibate throughout his life, so he did not agree to this proposal. Then Satyavatī invited her son Vyāsa (Vyasa), who was born before her marriage, to produce Kṣetraja sons of Vicitravīrya. Vyāsa said, ‘If queen Amvikā is able to bear my ill-looking appearance, she will give birth to a healthy son’. Satyavatī said to Amvikā, that one brother-in-law of hers by relation, would produce the Kṣetraja son of Vicitravīrya out of her womb. She was waiting in her bed chamber, and at due time, Vyāsa entered there. But Amvikā could not bear the bright eyes, the grey matted locks and the rough looks of the austere ascetic Vyāsa. She closed her eyes in fear. Vyāsa told Satyavatī, due to this fault of the mother, Amvikā’s son will be born with good qualities, he will be powerful but blind since birth — kintu mātuḥ vaiguṇyādandha eva bhaviṣyati.
In due time, Amvikā gave birth to the son, whose name was Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Dhrtarashtra).

After the death of Pāṇḍu, the desire for kingdom grew in the mind of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and Duryodhana started committing more and more unjust acts. Vyāsa understood this critical situation. Advised by Vyāsa, Satyavatī left the royal house and went of to Vānaprastha. Before leaving, she came to the inner quarters, and told Amvikā, ‘The Kuru dynasty will be destroyed one day, due to your son. It is better to leave with me, and not to stay here to witness that decline’. Amvikā accepted Satyavatī’s advice. Amvālika also followed her.