Dāśārajña War - The First Epochal War of India
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A Descriptive thread
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A Descriptive thread
India’s ancient history has two parallel strands of equal antiquity and enigma. The first is Sapta-Sindhu civilisation, the second is the oral tradition of Vedas.
As Dr. Dhavalikar remarked, these two strands rarely intersect, and this peculiarity has created many mysteries.
As Dr. Dhavalikar remarked, these two strands rarely intersect, and this peculiarity has created many mysteries.
One of such enigmatic & epochal events is the Dāśārajña War.
While its archaeological evidence is not yet available, we find its memories in the Rgveda. They tell us the story of a great war that once took place amongst the kingdoms of Vedic India.
While its archaeological evidence is not yet available, we find its memories in the Rgveda. They tell us the story of a great war that once took place amongst the kingdoms of Vedic India.
In the war, on one side was King Sudās of the Bharata clan, and of the Paijavana family. He was supported by Tṛtsu family and the seer Vasiṣṭha.
On the other side was a conglomeration of many kings: Pūru, Yadu, Turvaśa, Anu, Druhyu, Alina, Paktha, Bhalānas, Alina, Viṣāṇiṇ, Śiva, Vaikarṇa, Matsya, Śimyu, Bheda, Aja, Śigru, Yakṣu, Bhṛgu, Kavaṣa, etc.
And they were supported by the seer Viśvāmitra.
And they were supported by the seer Viśvāmitra.
During the war, King Sudās and Bharatas were attacked by the conglomeration of kings on the banks of high-flowing river Paruṣṇī (modern day Ravi in Punjab and Pakistan).
Given the magnitude of the aderversity, Sudās retreated and crossed the river.
Given the magnitude of the aderversity, Sudās retreated and crossed the river.
Some of the allies tried to pursue Sudās.
In the face of the imminent peril, seer Vasiṣṭha prayed to Indra and Varuna.
And behold, as the opposite confederates tried to cross the river, a torrential flood drowned some of them.
In the face of the imminent peril, seer Vasiṣṭha prayed to Indra and Varuna.
And behold, as the opposite confederates tried to cross the river, a torrential flood drowned some of them.
Some of them tried to dig channels to divert the river and make it a bit shallower. They failed and faced disastrous fate.
Those who could make it to the other side were vanquished by Sudās. The remaining tried to flee and left all their possessions for the winner take home.
Those who could make it to the other side were vanquished by Sudās. The remaining tried to flee and left all their possessions for the winner take home.
Sudās vanquished two Vaikarṇas on the shores of river Paruṣṇī. He further traversed to the bank of river Yamuna, and destroyed King Bheda.
Sudās’s victory of decisive and defining. In the wake of it, his supporters Ajas, Śigrus and Yakṣus offered him their tributes.
Sudās’s victory of decisive and defining. In the wake of it, his supporters Ajas, Śigrus and Yakṣus offered him their tributes.
The outcome of the war established the pre-eminence of the Bharatas in the region. In his description, King Sudās is exalted as an astute king and a wise statesman.
As per the literary evidence, Dāśārajña War was a defining moment in the history of Vedic India, which went on to shape the future of the civilization.
Earlier today we released one of the very first open lectures on the Dāśārajña War.
In the lecture, Dr. Mugdha Gadgil provides a detailed account of the war, its interpretations by modern scholars & its mentions in the various mandalas of the Rigveda.
In the lecture, Dr. Mugdha Gadgil provides a detailed account of the war, its interpretations by modern scholars & its mentions in the various mandalas of the Rigveda.
Thanks for joining us today, and once again we wish everyone a very happy Independence Day.
#IndependenceDay #IndiaAt75
#IndependenceDay #IndiaAt75
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