| COUNTRIES IN KURUKSHETRA WAR Countries and kings who participated in the Kurukshetra war :
The countries/states mentioned in the Vyas Bharat to have taken part in the war are :
Panchal, Madra, Matsya, Salva, Videh, Bahlik, Dhasarn, Surasen, Kaling, Magadh, Vang, Ang, Gandhar, Kamboj, Kosal, Govasan, Trigarth, Malwa, Yavan, Chedhi, Pandya, Chola, Kekeye, Kashi, Pragjyothish, Avanthi, Sindhu desh, China, Malech.
Only 2 kings did not take part in the war from Bharat Varsh – Krishna’s brother Balaram and Rukmi (prince of Vidharb and a Bhoj king) brother of Krishna’s wife Rukmini. All other kings from Bharat Varsh are said to have taken part in the war.
Geographic location of the countries :
Most of the information given below are from Encyclopaedia Brittanica. The others indicated within paranthesis are from other sources.
Gandhar :
Northwestern Pakistan and extending into the valleys of Kabul and Swat and including districts of Peshawar (Peshawar was then known as Purushapur).
Avanti :
The Ujjain-Narmada valley region in Madhya Pradesh
Magadh :
West-central Bihar in Northeastern India
Malwa :
Likely that Southern Rajasthan as far as Narmada and Ujjain district was named/known as Malwa after the Malavs, who appear to have migrated from Punjab to the Jaipur area around 58 BC.
Trigarths :
Associated with the Chamba region of the upper Ravi River, but they also may have inhabited the area of Jalandhav in the plains.
Yavan :
In Indian literature, Yavan refers to Greece. They are probably originally Bactrian Greeks. Later, the term could have referred to all coming from Western Asia and Mediterranean including Rome, Persia and Arab.
(Interestingly, Mahabharat refers to the descendants of prince Dhurvasu as Yavans. It is said that since this prince, the second son of king Yayati through Devayani does not ascend the throne, he moves out of Bharat Varsh and his descendants are called Yavans)
Malech :
In Sanskrit, Malech means people of foreign origin. Malech were found in North Western India. There is reason to believe that the people known in Akkadian* as Mlakka were the original Malech. (Interestingly, Mahabharat refers to the descendants of prince Anu as Malech. It is mentioned that this prince, the second son of king Yayati through Sarmishta does not ascend the throne and hence moves out and his descendants are called Malech).
Pragjyotish :
Modern Guwahati. Ancient Kamarup (Assam) included roughly the Brahmaputra valley, Bhutan, Rangpur region (Bangladesh), Koch Bihar, West Bengal. King Narakasur and his descendant Bagadatt (who takes part in Kurukshetr war) were famous rulers of Kamarup in Mahabharath period. Rangpur in North Western Bangladesh on Ghagat River mentioned as the country residence of Bagadatt.
Kamboj :
Adjoining Gandhar. Later, it became a trading centre for horses imported from Central Asia.
Kekeye :
Between Gandhar and Beas River. (Kaikeyi of Ramayan is from Kekeye, Madra the reason she was called Kaikeye)
Matsya :
South west of Delhi (This is where the Pandavs spent the 13th year of their Vanavas)
Kuru Panchal Ganges :
Yamuna Doab.
Malla :
Eastern Uttar Pradesh
Surasen :
With Mathura as capital
Chedi :
Bundelkhand, lay on route to Deccan
Magadh :
Around Patna and Gaya
Ang :
North of the delta.
States in India around 500 BC (source – Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Political map of Pragjyotish-Kamarup, 400-1200 CE (cohums.ohio-state.edu/comp/maps.htm). The highlights are places mentioned in Mahabharat. Bagadatt was the king of Pragjyotish and his country residence was in Rangpur (Encyclopaedia Brittanica). Buddhist writings and other sources on Pre-Mauryan states (500 – 150 BC) mention 16 major states dominating the Northern part of the sub-continent. Some of the states mentioned in the Mahabharat find mention. For instance, Gandhar, Kamboj, Kuru Panchal, Matsya, Kashi and Kosal. These are continued from the earlier period and are also mentioned in Vedic literature. Other states are Avanti, Asvaka, Surasen, Chedi, Malla, Vrijji, Magadh, Ang (Encyclopaedia Brittanica).
Encyclopaedia Brittanica mentions a state called ‘Covasna’ in Hungary/Romania in olden times and Balikh around 2300 BC in old Mesopotamia. Their similarity to Govasan and Bahlik mentioned in Mahabharath is interesting. The above showing states in India around 500 BC is taken from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Some of the states mentioned in Mahabharat can also be seen. The kingdoms of Chera, Chola and Pandya have been shown additionally by the author.
Kings who contributed army divisions to Kauravs :
The following kings contributed 1 Akshouhini army each to Duryodhan :
1. Salya of Madra kingdom
2. Kruthavarma of Satwadh clan (one of the 3 to survive the war)
3. Bhurisrav son of Somadatt, the king of Bahlik
4. Bagadatt, king of Pragjyothish (descendant of Narakasur born of Vishnu and Bhoomi Devi)
5. King of China
6. Jaydrath of Sindhu kingdom (son-in-law of Dhrudhrurashtra)
7. Neela, king of Kamboj
8. Vindh, Anuvindh of Avanthi kingdom
9. King of Vang
10. Sudakshin of Kamboj
11. Srudhayu of Kaling (he took part in the Swayamvar of Draupadi)
The 11 Akshouhinis were lead each by Kripacharya, Salya, Jayadrath, Sudhakshin, Kritvarma, Ashvattam, Karn, Bhurisrav, Sakuni, Bahlig and Dron.
Kings (some names) :
In addition to the kings who provided substantial army to the Kauravas, there were other kings and princes who fought on the side of the Kauravs. The names of kings who fought with Kauravs are :
1. Srudhayu (Kaling)
2. King of Vang
3. Sakuni (Gandhar)
4. Uloog (Sakuni’s son)
5. Vruksh (Sakuni’s brother)
6. Asal (Sakuni’s brother)
7. Sudhakshin (Kamboj)
8. Kamboj (Kamboj)
9. Jayathsen (Magadh)
10. Bruhathbal (king of Kosal)
11. Saibya (king of Govasan)
12. Srudhaya
13. Chitrasen
14. Purumithra
15. Kaing
16. Bowrav
17. Kshemadhanwa
18. Chal
19. Bahleeg
20. Salya
21. Rukmaradh (Salya’s son)
22. Kethuman (king from Kaling)
23. Chakradev (son of Kethuman)
24. Satwa
25. Sowbal
26. Bag brothers
27. Alambus (Bag’s brother)
28. Alayudh (Bag’s brother)
29. Ambashtaraj
30. Somadatt
31. Ekalaiv (Nishaad or hunters’ king)
32. Susarma (king of Trigarth)
33. Bhoj
34. Sathyavrad
35. Srudayudh
36. Vrukshasen
37. Aarsyasrungi
38. Jalasandh (Magadh king)
39. Puri
40. Nandhag
41. Indravarma (king of Malwa)
42. Semadhurthi
43. Dhandadh (Magadh)
44. Dhand (Magadh)
45. Suvekshan
46. Harishtasen
47. Dhrudhasen
48. Dhurshik
49. Jayathsen
50. Sudarshan
51. Sunabh
52. Viraj
53. Deeptalachan
54. Mahardwaj
55. Charuvag
56. Salv* (Salv kingdom – referred as leader of the ‘Malech’ or foreigners)
57. Ang (a Malech king)
58. Kshemadurthi
59. Jay
60. Subahu
61. Dhurmug
62. Vivimsathi
63. Vikarn
64. Aarsyasrungi
65. Sadasur
66. Alambal (Sadasur’s son)
67. Vindh
68. Anuvindh
69. Arsudhayu
70. Asumaha
71. Vrukshasen (Karn’s son)
72. Sukshen (Karn’s son)
73. Prasen (Karn’s son)
74. Sathyasen (Karn’s son)
75. Chitrasen (Karn’s son)
76. Lakshman (Duryodhan’s son)
Other grand-sons of Dhritarashtra (names are not mentioned) the 100 sons of Dhritarashtra (all their names are mentioned by Vyas)
The king who wanted to marry Amba, the princess of Kashi but was defeated by Bhishma and later refused to marry Amba.
Clans :
The clans who took part in the war are Yavan, Saga, Bhoj, Nishad*, Malech.
* Nishad were hunters. Incidentally, Guh the character in Ramayana was a Nishad king.
Kings who contributed army divisions to Pandavs :
On the Pandav side, 7 kings contributed 1 Akshouhini army each :
1. Satyaki - Of Shini clan and one of the 7 on the Pandav side to survive the war
2. Dhrushtakethu of Chedhi kingdom - Son of Shishupal, who was killed by Krishna
3. Jayathsen of Magadh kingdom - Son of Jarasandh killed earlier by Bheem
4. Malayadhwaj Pandya of Pandya kingdom in South
5. Kekeye of Kekeye kingdom
6. Dhrupadh the king of Panchal
7. Virat of Matsya kingdom
The 7 Akshouhinis were led by Drupadh, Virat, Drushtadhyumna, Sikandi, Satyaki, Chekidan (Vrushni clan) and Drushtakethu.
Satyaki was the grandson of King Shini who fought with Vasudev (Krishna’s father) along with Sowmadatt during the Swayamvar of Devaki (Krishna’s mother). Bhurisrav who fought for the Kauravs is the grandson of Sowmadatt.
Kings and clans who fought for Pandavs :
Kings (some names) :
The other kings/princes who fought on the side of the Pandavs were :
1. Utthamauj (Panchal prince)
2. Yudhamanyu (Panchal prince)
3. Drushtadhyumn (Panchal prince)
4. Sikandi (Panchal prince)
5. Sathyajit (Panchal prince)
6. Veerakethu (Panchal prince)
7. Pachalya (Panchal prince)
8. Sons of Panchal princes :
9. Kshatradarma (son of Drushtadhyumna)
10. Kshatradev (son of Sikandi)
11. Satyaki
12. 10 sons of Satyaki :
13. King of Kashi
14. Abibu (son of king of Kashi)
15. Kunthiboj (Vrushni clan)
16. Senbindhu (Vrushni clan)
17. Chekidan (Vrushni clan)
18. Yagnasen (Panchal)
19. Purujit
20. Chaivya
21. Chaitya
22. Sadhaneeg
23. Neela
24. Idumba
25. Udhamanyu
26. Yasodhara
27. Charukirthi
28. Sruthakirthi
29. Sudhasom
30. Mithravarma (Kekeye)
31. Srunjayas
32. Virat
33. Sadhaneeg (Virat’s brother)
34. Madhirakshas (Virat’s brother)
35. Suryadatt (Virat’s brother)
36. Sanga (Virat’s son)
37. Utthra (Virat’s son)
38. Shweth (Virat’s son)
39. Sadhaneeg (Virat’s son)
40. Chola king*
41. Pandya king*
42. Ketham
43. Vasudan
44. Sudamanyu (king of Dasarna)
45. Prathivindyan
46. Prathivindya (Yudhishthir’s son by Draupadi)
47. Gadodhgaj (Bheem’s son by Idumbi)
48. Sudhasom (Bheem’s son by Draupadi)
49. Anjanaparv (Gagodhgaj’s son)
50. Sruthakirthi (Arjun’s son by Draupadi)
51. Abhimanyu (Arjun’s son by Subhadra)
52. Aravan (Arjun’s son by Nag princess Ulupi)
53. Sadhanig (Nakul’s son by Draupadi)
54. Sruthsena (Sahadev’s son by Draupadi)
In addition, it is mentioned that the Chera king supplied food to the entire army. Because of this he is known as ‘Perum Chotrudaya Udhayan’ meaning the Udhayan, who possessed large amounts of food. This is also mentioned in the old Tamil classic “Pura Nanuru”. Mention is made of the Chera, Chola and Pandya kings from Southern kingdoms as having attended with lots of gifts for the ‘Rajsuya Yagya’ conducted by Yudhishthir at Indraprasth. While the Chera and Chola kings are said to have gifted lots of sandalwood and pearls, the Pandya king is said to have given 96 barams of high quality sandalwood and 96 high quality conches.
Clans :
The clans mentioned are Nag*, Somag.
Extracts
from “Ancient Jaffna” by Mudaliyar C Rasanayagam (1926).
– “In the Mahabharat the Nags are frequently mentioned
as living in various parts of Bharat (India) and Ceylon in a highly
civilized state under their own kings.
Note – Repetition of some names could refer to different kings with the same name. Similarly, more than one name from a kingdom could refer to kings from the smaller states within the kingdom. |
