Ramayana and Mahabharatha are
considered as Epics in India. Everybody believes that Kurukshetra is only the
Epic battle in India. However there was another , according to the vedic
scriptures and archaeological records, there was a battle called DASARAJNA
YUDDHA or Battle Of Ten Kings, whose result decided the future of great epics
of India. This story is needed to be raise as one of the Epic but surprisingly
it is unknown to many people and forgotten.
Apart from religious hymns in
the praise of Devas like Indra, Varuna, Agni, Soma, the Rigved also contains
precious information on certain events that have occurred during it' era. The
events like wars, donations to rishis, mentioning certain names of rishis and
kings are a regular occurance in Rigveda. This makes it an important scripture
which has historical data in it.
The Battle Of Ten Kings or
Dasarajna Yuddha is a major event took place in middle of the Rigvedic period.
It was stated in 7th Mandala of the Rigveda, in hymns 18, 33 and 83.4-8. It was
a battle between Trtsu-Bharata (Puru) king Sudas and Puru Vedic Aryan tribal kingdoms of the
Bharatas.
By the time of this war, the
Vedic Hindus covered a vast territory, from the banks of Jamuna to Iran in in
the west. In modern terms it covers the North India, Pakistan , Afghanistan and
Iran.
Background:
Apart from details of what happened in the
war, the information need to be known was what caused the war and where the war
took place. The main reason behind the
war is the rivalry between Vishwamitra and Vasishta.
From the earliest times Vishwamitras
were related to the kings of Purus and Panchalas who are called Bharatas in
general. Sudas himself was a Bharata. The profuse references to places in
Haryana and hymns in the praise of Sudas prove that Sudas himself was a Bharata.
Specifically, the hymn RV(3.53) composed by Vishwamitra himself praises Sudas
and tells us that with the help of Vishwamitras, Sudas had reached the Sindhu
river, crossed it and had done a huge Yagya there. The Brihad Devata tells us
even the Vasishtas were present there. Along with Vishwamitras, the Jamadagnis
were also present. Because of some dispute between some Jamadagnis and Shaktyas
(descendants of Vasishtas's son Shakti), some Jamadagnis fainted. This caused
them to utter curses which also find place in. These curses are called
Sasarpari. RV(3.53).
At first Visvamitra was the
priest of Sudas. He led him to victorious campaigns on the banks of Vipas and
Sutudri. Later there was some misunderstanding and Vasistha was appointed as
the priest and Visvamitra was sacked. There upon a long and bitter rivalry
ensued between the two priests. With the Vasishta getting closer to Sudas and
the consequent jealousy of Vishwamitra resulted in Vishwamitra leaving Sudas
and in revenge, Vishvamitra consolidating a group of 10 kings and led them
against Sudas. Hence this war is known
as Ten Kings Battle.
The other people who were
involved against Sudas are Kavasha, Ailusha and Kavi Chaymana.
Battle:
The war is described
completely in the hymns RV(7.18), (7.19), (7.33 ) composed by Vasishta. According to RV(7.18.5) the war took place
on the banks of the river Parushni (Ravi) in Punjab. Following were the enemies
of Sudas-
Alinas RV(7.18.7): it was suggested that they lived to the
north-east of Nuristan, because the land was mentioned by the Chinese pilgrim
Hiouen Thsang.
Anus RV(7.18.13): Some place
them in the Paruṣṇī (Ravi) area.
Bhrigus RV(7.18.6): The
priestly family descended from the ancient Kavi Bhrigu. Later, they are related
to the composition of parts of the Atharva Veda (Bhṛgv-Āṅgirasa) .
Bhalanas RV(7.18.7): Some scholars have argued that the Bhalanas
lived in the Bolan Pass area.
Druhyus RV(7.18.6): Some
align them with the Gandhari (RV I 1.126.7).(Later age Druidsof Europe )
Matsya RV(7.18.6): are only
mentioned in the RV (7.18.6), but later in connection with the Śālva.
Parsus RV(7.83.1): The Parśu
have been connected by some with the ancient Persians.
Purus: one of the major
tribal confederations in the Rigveda.
Panis: Also the name of a
class of demons; later associated with the Scythians.
Paktha RV(7.18.7)
Vishanin RV(7.18.7)
Shivi RV(7.18.7)
Turvasha RV(7.18.6)
Vaikarnas RV(7.18.11)
Pruthus RV(7.18.8)
Simyu RV(7.18.5)
These all were segregated
under 10 kings for the war. Along with this, there were many other enemies with
whom Sudas fought the war on the banks of Yamuna. They were
Yakshas RV(7.18.19)
Shigrus RV(7.18.19)
Aja RV(7.18.19)
and whose leader was a king
called Bheda RV(7.18.19). The only known ally of Sudas in this war were Trutsu
people (Ikshvakus)
In the bloody and decisive
battle on the banks of River Parusni, the Bharats emerged victorious, defeating
the ten kings. The kings of Anu and Druhyu kingdoms were drowned, while
Purukutsa, King of the Puru Kingdom met his death.
There was another battle in
which Sudas fought with Ajas, Sigrus and Yaksus who had united under King
Bheda; but these new assailants also met the same fate and were defeated, being
slaughtered on the River Jamuna.
Sudas emerged as a winner of
the war. A total of 6666 people were killed in the war (RV -7.18.14).
After the Battle of Ten Kings:
After the Battle of Ten Kings many Indians migrated from India, all the names of these people
were found in Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, Albania, Greece and many more
countries. They all migrated after the defeat at hands of Sudas. Following is a list of migrants by Shrikant talgeri in his book
The Rig Veda- A Historical Analysis:--
Prthus or Parthavas (RV
7-83-1) Parthians
Parsus or Parsvas (7-83-1)
Persians
Pakthas (7-18-7) Paktoons
Bhalanas (7-18-7) Baluchis
Sivas (7-18-7) Kivas
Visanins (7-18-7) Pisachas/Dards
Simyus (718-5) Sarmatians(ancient
Albanians)
Alinas (7-18-7) Alans
/Hellennes/ Ancient Greeks
Bhrgus (7-18-6) Phyrgians
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