ROOTSHUNT

King Tarsi of Kish or Tarsa-Dasyu or Su-Dasa & his famous victory over Ten Confederate Kings

The chief battle-hymns in the Indian Vedic psalms of the Early Aryans are those celebrating the victories of King Su-Dasa now disclosed as King Tarsi of Kish. There are many references to his victories throughout the Vedas. The chief of these are in the special hymn which is generally known as "Su-Dasa's Battle-Hymn of Victory over the Ten confederated Kings." As he is now identified with King Tarsi, the numerous details in its names of the chief kings and tribes or nations in the hostile confederacy of this period are of much historical importance, so that I cite here the hymn for reference.

This hymn was compiled and sung, as stated in its first four stanzas by King Su-Dasa's chief priest named Vasishta a title used for a class of sacrificing priests in the Vedas and derived as I have formerly suggested from the Akkadian Pashishutu, "a class of anointing priests" in Mesopotamia. The King's own warrior-people are called Tritsus.

Significantly the name of the chief river in the hymn at the seat of the first battle is called in Sanskrit Parushni, which is clearly intended for the Sumerian name of the Euphrates as Puranunu or Puratti. The other river is called Yamuna and mention is made of his victories on "seven rivers." In another Vedic hymn he celebrates victories on the Vipas and Sutudri, which are usually identified by Sankritists with the Bias and Sutlej tributaries of the Indus, and thus may relate to his recovery of the Indus Valley colony. And with characteristic piety the victories are ascribed by Su-Dasa and his priest to Indra, that is the In-Dara or In-Duru or Lord Sakh of the Sumerians, of which deity they were the votaries.

This hymn, which is full of the stirring movement of battle, opens with Su-Dasa's, somewhat miraculous crossing of the flooded Parushni river (Euphrates), by the aid of his patron god Indra, while the returning waters drowned most of the enemy host-just as such a miraculous passage story was later attached by the Hebrews to the crossing of the Red Sea by Moses and the Israelites. The simile in verse I7 of the Goat tlrrough Indra's aid doing the Lion to death, is significantly a favourite Scene on Sumerian, Hittite and Phoenician sacred seals, and on Phoenician coins, and on ancient Briton monuments; and the Lion attacking the Goats is seen on the Predynastic Egyptian knife handle (Fig. 14, p. 30), and in the Frontispiece, where the champion of the Goats (or Goths) Thor, Adam or In-Dur defeats the enemy Lions. And the striking synchronism is noteworthy in verse 10, where Prishni the Maruta or Morite is named as aiding King Su-Diisa with horsemen whom he "sent down," and who is clearly Vrishni, a cousin of Su-Dasa's father in the collateral dynasty of the Cedi or Cidi branch of the Panch or "Phoenicians." (see App. I, No. 21, col. 3).

The first four verses celebrate the almightiness of Indra and cite the bard's name as Vasishtha.

(RV. 3, 53. 9 and RV. 7, 18.)

Battle-Hymn of victory of King Su-Dasa or Trasa-dasyu or King Tarsi from Veds :

No.

Mantras

"Though the floods spread widely, Indra made them shallow and easy for Su-Das to cross;

He (Indra) worthy of our praise, caused the Simyu foe of our hymn, to curse the rivers' fury.

Eager for spoil was (the enemy leader) Turvasa Puro-Das, fain to win wealth, like Matsya (fishes) urged by hunger;

The Bhrigus and the Druhyus quickly listened to him : friend joined friend amid the two distant peoples.

Together came the Pakthas, the Bhalanas, the Alinas, the Sivas, the Vishanins;

But to (Su Das') Tritsus came the Aryans' Comrade (Indra) to lead these heroes on in war and spoil.

The (enemy) fools in their folly, fain to waste her waters they parted inexhaustible Parushni (Puratti or Euphrates);

But the Lord of the Earth (Indra) with his might repressed them : still lay the herd and their affrighted herdsman.

As to their goal they sped to their destruction : they sought Parushni; but even their swift men returned not;

Indra to Su Das, the manly, abandoned the swiftly flying foes, unmanly babblers.

10.

The fleers rushed like kine unherded from the pasture, each clinging to a friend as chance happened;

But the Maruts driving dappled steeds sent down by Prishni gave ear, these warriors and their harnessed horses.

(1. This is interpreted by Sanskrit scholars as an attempt by the enemy confederates to make the flooded river fordable by digging canals to divert the stream, but the river rushing back to its natural bed drowned the men when crossing the stream.

2. This Prishni is evidently King Vrishni of the collateral Panch Dynasty in Maghya Land, being the clan title of Cedi or Cidi, which branched off with the third brother of King Madgal (see col. 3 in Table. App. I). He was contemporary with Su-Dasa's father, and also as now seen with Su-Dasa himself, and was therefore a "cousin" of the latter.)

No.

Mantras

11.

The King who (singly) scattered one-and-twenty houses of both Vaikarna tribes with glory-

As the skilled priest clips grass within the shrine, so hath the hero Indra wrought their downfall.

12.

Thou thunder-armed Indra overwhelmest in the waters the famous old Kavasha, and then the Druhyu;

Whilst thy votaries, O Indra! with thy friendship were made joyful.

13.

Indra in conquering might demolished all their strong holds and their seven castles;

The goods of Anu's son he gave to (Su Das') Tritsus. May we by our sacrifices conquer scornful Puru!

14.

The Anus and Druhyus seeking spoil have slept, the sixty hundred, yea the six thousand,

And six and sixty of their heroes. For his votaries were all these mighty deeds done by Indra.

15.

The Tritsus under Indra's careful guidance sped on like loosened waters rushing downwards,

The foemen with reluctance abandoned to Su Das all their treasured stores.

16.

The vaunted heroes who drank (Indra's) dressed oblations, Indra's deniers, far o'er the earth he scattered them :

Indra laid low the fierce destroyers' fury, He set them different roads (in flight), did he the paths Controller.

17.

E'en with the weaker he worked this matchless triumph : E'en with a Goat he did to death a Lion.!

He pared the pillar's angles with a needle. Thus to Su Das Indra gave all their treasured stores.

18.

To thee (Su Das) have all thine enemies submitted; e'en the fierce Bheda, hast thou made thy subject.

Cast down thy sharpened thunder-bolt, O Indra, on him who harms the men who sing thy praise!

19.

Yamuna (River) and the Tritsus aided Indra. There he stripped Bheda bare of all his treasures.

The Ajas and the Sigrus and the Yakshus, brought in to him as tribute heads of horses.

20.

Not to be scorned but like recurring dawns, O Indra, are thy favours and thy riches.

Devaka, Manyamana's son thou slewest, and smotest Sambara from the lofty mountain.

21.

We (priests) who from home, have gladdened thee, Thy servants Parashara, Vasishtha, Satayatu

Will not forget thy friendship, bountiful Giver; So shall the days dawn prosperous for the princes.

24.

Him (Su Das) whose fame spreads 'tween wide earth and heaven, who as dispenser gives each chief his portion :

Seven flowing Rivers glorify him like Indra. He slew Yudhyamadhi in close encounter.

25.

Attend on Su Das ye Marut heroes as on his (fore-) father Divo-Dasa !

Further Pijavan's son's desire with favour. Guard faithfully his lasting firm dominion !

(1. Indra. with his attendant sacred Goat. vanquishing the Lion is a frequent scene on Sumerian. Hittite and Phoenician sacred seals, and on Phoenician coins. See for representations WPOB. 334.)