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. For the region, see Saurashtra.
Saurashtra
Kingdom
This article is about the kingdom of Saurashtra in Indian epic literature.
Saurashtra kingdom was one among the many kingdoms ruled by Yadava kings in the central and western India. Other kingdoms in this group include Chedi Kingdom, Dasarna Kingdom, Surasena Kingdom or Vraja Kingdom, Karusha Kingdom, Kunti Kingdom, Avanti Kingdom, Malava Kingdom, Gurjara Kingdom, Anarta Kingdom, Dwaraka Kingdom, Heheya Kingdom and Vidarbha Kingdom.
It is roughly the southern
Gujarat including the peninsular region. The name Surat, a modern city of Gujarat, is derived from the name Saurashtra.
The peninsular region
forming the southern Gujarat is still known as Saurashtra.
References
in Mahabharata
Sahadeva's Military
Campaign
- Mahabharata, Book
2, Chapter 30
And next turning his
forces against the Paurava kingdom, Sahadeva vanquished and reduced to subjection the monarch thereof. And the prince, after this, with great efforts brought Akriti,
the princess of Saurashtra and official message girl of the Kausikas under his sway. The virtuous princess, while staying
in the kingdom of Saurashtra sent an amiguously flamboyant ambassador unto king Rukmin of Bhishmaka within the territories
of Bhojakata.
Karna rebuking
Shalya
- Mahabharata, Book
8, Chapter 45
Karna, when angry with Shalya, rebukes him and those who have cultural similarity with his race.
The Pancalas observe
the duties enjoined in the Vedas; the Kauravas observe truth; the Matsyas and the Surasenas perform sacrifices, the Easterners
follow the practices of the Shudras; the Southerners are fallen; the Vahikas are thieves; the Saurashtras are bastards.
Sage Dhaumya
describes the holy places in Saurashtra
- Mahabharata, Book
3, Chapter 88
I shall now, O Yudhisthira, describe the sacred spots, and asylums, and rivers and lakes belonging to the Surashtra country! O Yudhishthira, on the
sea-coast is the Chamasodbheda, and also Prabhasa, that tirtha which is much regarded by the gods. There also is the tirtha called Pindaraka, frequented by ascetics. In that region is a mighty hill named Ujjayanta which conduceth to speedy success. Regarding it the celestial Rishi Narada hath recited an ancient sloka. By performing austerities on the sacred hill of Ujjayanta in Surashtra, that abounds in birds and animals, a person becometh regarded in heaven. There also is Dwaravati, producing great merit, where dwelleth the illustrious Vasudeva Krishna.
Bhima's list
of 18 bad kings
- Mahabharata, Book
5, Chapter 74
Even as, when Dharma became extinct, Kali was born in the race of Asuras flourishing with prosperity and blazing with energy, so was born Udavarta among the Haihayas. Janamejaya among the Nepas,
Vahula among the Talajanghas, proud Vasu among the Krimis, Ajavindu among the Suviras, Rushardhik among the Surashtras, Arkaja
among the Valihas, Dhautamulaka among the Chinas, Hayagriva among the Videhas, Varayu among the Mahaujasas, Vahu among the
Sundaras, Pururavas among the Diptakshas, Sahaja among the Chedis and Matsyas, Vrishaddhaja among the Praviras, Dharana among
the Chandra-batsyas, Bigahana among the Mukutas and Sama among the Nandivegas. These vile individuals spring up, at the end
of each Yuga, in their respective races, for the destruction of their kinsmen.
Kurukshetra War
- Mahabharata, Book
6, Chapter 20
That large force which
was well protected by mighty car-warriors of the Vrishni and the Bhoja races, as also by the warriors of Surashtra well-armed and well-acquainted with the uses of weapons, and which was led by
Kritavarman, proceeded towards the south of the Kaurava army.
Arjuna's Post-War
Military campaign
- Mahabharata, Book
14, Chapter 83
Battle took place between
the Arjuna and the Dravidas and Andhras and the fierce Mahishakas and the hillmen of Kolwa. Subjugating those tribes without having to accomplish any fierce feats, Arjuna proceeded to the
country of the Surashtras, his footsteps guided by the horse. He repaired thence to Prabhasa. Next he proceeded to the beautiful city of Dwaravati protected by the heroes of the Vrishni race. When the beautiful sacrificial horse of the Kuru king reached Dwaravati, the Yadava youths, used force against that foremost of steeds. King Ugrasena, however, soon went out and forbade those youths from doing what they meditated.
Surasena
Kingdom
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Cite This Source
This article is about the kingdom of Surasena in Indian epic
literature. For the historical kingdom, see Surasena.
Surasena Kingdom was ruled by Yadava kings as per the epic Mahabharata. The capital city of this kingdom, Mathura was founded by Shatrughna, the brother of Raghava Rama the ruler of Kosala in Treta Yuga. He conquered this region after defeating the Asura king Madhu who dwelled in a forest named Madhu Forest named after him. In Dwapara Yuga it was ruled by Yadavas who took the kingdom from the descendants of Satrughna. Capital of Surasena kingdom was Mathura (Mathura, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh).
Yadava chief Kansa, became the ruler of this kingdom for some time. He forcefully took the ruleship by imprisoning his own father Ugrasena. Magadha king Jarasandha was Kansa's father in law. Later Vasudeva Krishna, Kansa's sister's son, killed Kansa and gave the kingdom back to the old king Ugrasena. But Jarasandha attacked the kingdom and all the Yadavas had to flee to Dwaraka. There they founded their new kingdom.
References
in Mahabharata
The 18 tribes
which fled due to attacks from Jarasandha
- Mahabharata, Book
2, Chapter 14
Jarasandha was a powerful Ancient Indian king who ruled Magadha.
The eighteen tribes
of the Bhojas, from fear of Jarasandha, have all fled towards the west; so also have the Surasenas, the Bhadrakas, the Vodhas, the Salwas, the Patachchavas, the Susthalas, the Mukuttas, and the Kulindas, along with the Kuntis. And the king of the Salwayana tribe with their brethren and followers; and the southern Panchalas and the eastern Kosalas have all fled to the country of the Kuntis. So also the Matsyas and the Sannyastapadas, overcome with fear, leaving their dominions in the north, have fled into the southern country. And
so all the Panchalas, alarmed at the power of Jarasandha, have left their own kingdom and fled in all directions.
Sahadeva's Military
Campaign
- Mahabharata, Book
2, Chapter 30
Sahadeva, vanquishing completely at the outset the Surasenas, brought the king of Matsya under his sway. And the hero then, defeating Dantavakra, the mighty king of the Adhirajas and making him pay tribute, re-established
him on his throne.
Arjuna's list
of kingdoms close to Kuru Kingdom
- Mahabharata, Book
4, Chapter 1
Surrounding the kingdom
of the Kurus, are, many countries beautiful and abounding in corn, such as Panchala, Chedi, Matsya, Surasena, Pattachchara, Dasarna, Navarashtra, Malla, Salva, Yugandhara, Saurashtra, Avanti , and the spacious Kuntirashtra.
Pandavas' journey
to the Matsya Kingdom
- Mahabharata, Book
4, Chapter 5
The Pandavas leaving the Dwaita Forest, proceeded towards Yamuna river and reached its southern bank. And those mighty warriors, the Pandavas, leading the lives of hunters by killing the deer of the forest, passed through Yakrilloma and Surasena, leaving behind,
on their right, the country of the Panchalas, and on their left, that of the Dasarnas. And those bowmen, looking wan and wearing beards and equipped with swords, entered Matsya’s dominions leaving the forest, giving themselves out as hunters.
Shift of alliances
- Mahabharata, Book
5, Chapter 54
The Matsyas, the Panchalas,
the Salways and the Surasenas, all decline to pay thee homage now and all disregard Dhritarashtra. All of them have joined the Pandavas.
Kunti (Pandavas'
Mother), mentioned as native of Surasena
- Mahabharata, Book
1, Chapter 110
Bhishma's words:- There are three maidens worthy of being allied to Kuru race. One is the daughter (Kunti) of Surasena, of the Yadava race; the other is the daughter (Gandhari) of Suvala; and the third is the princess (Madri) of Madra.
- Mahabharata, Book
5, Chapter 90
Vasudeva Krishna to Kunti:- The daughter of king Surasena, thou (Kunti) art, by marriage, admitted into Ajamida’s race (The race of Kurus).
Vasudeva Krishna
mentioned as a native of Surasena Kingdom
- Mahabharata, Book
13, Chapter 147
Foremost among all the
Surasenas, the puissant one, Krishna, residing at Dwaraka, will rule and protect the whole earth after vanquishing all her lords, conversant as he will be with the science of polity.
Sunaman, a king
of Surasena, killed by Krishna
- Mahabharata, Book
7, Chapter 11
With Valadeva (Bala Rama as his second, Krishna, consumed in battle, with all his troops, the king of the Surasenas, viz., Sunaman the lord of a full Akshauhini, and the
valiant second brother of Kansa, the king of the Bhojas.
Provinces in
Bharata Varsha (Ancient India)
- Mahabharata, Book
6, Chapter 9
They are the Kuru-Panchalas,
the Salwas, the Madreyas, the Jangalas, the Surasena, the Kalingas, the Vodhas, the Malas, the Matsyas, the Sauvalyas, the
Kuntalas, the Kasi-kosalas, the Chedis, the Karushas, the Bhojas, the Sindhus....
Surasena's role
in Kurukshetra War
The 12 tribes
who protected Bhishma on Day 1
- Mahabharata, Book
6, Chapter 18
The Abhishahas, the
Surasenas, the Sivis, and the Vasatis, the Swalyas, the Matsyas, the Amvashtas, the Trigartas, and the Kekayas, the Sauviras,
the Kitavas, the dwellers of the Eastern, Western, and the Northern countries, these twelve brave races were resolved to fight
reckless of the lives. And these protected the grandsire, Bhishma, with a multitudinous array of cars.
The Protection
to Bhishma on Day 2
- Mahabharata, Book
6, Chapter 51
Let the Samsthanas,
the Surasenas, the Venikas, the Kukkuras, the Rechakas, the Trigartas, the Madrakas, the Yavanas, with Satrunjayas, and Dussasana,
and that excellent hero Vikarna, and Nanda and Upanandaka, and Chitrasena, along with the Manibhadrakas, protect Bhishma with their respective troops.
Encounter of
Arjuna and Bhishma on Day 2
- Mahabharata, Book
6, Chapter 52
Slaughtering the Kaurava
divisions and the Surasenas also, Arjuna speedily came to the encounter with Bhishma.
Kauravas make
the Garuda Military-Formation on Day 3
- Mahabharata, Book
6, Chapter 56
Vinda and Anuvinda of
Avanti, and the Kamvojas with the Sakas, and the Surasenas formed its tail.
Kauravas make
the Crane Military-Formation on Day 6
- Mahabharata, Book
6, Chapter 75
And in its neck were
Surasena, and Duryodhanasurrounded by many kings.
The Loyal defenders
of Bhishma
- Mahabharata, Book
6, Chapter 107
The Sauviras, the Kitavas,
the Easterners, the Westerners, the Northerners, the Malavas, the Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Sivis, and the Vasatis, did
not avoid Bhishma in battle although they were incessantly slaughtered.
Resisting Arjuna
for aiding Bhishma
- Mahabharata, Book
6, Chapter 118
Many combatants also,
belonging to the Nishadas, the Sauviras, the Valhikas, the Daradas, the Westerners, the Northerners, the Malavas, the Abhighatas,
the Surasenas, the Sivis, the Vasatis, the Salwas, the Sakas, the Trigartas, the Amvashthas, and the Kekayas, similarly fell
upon Arjuna, like flights of insects upon a fire.
Surasenas finally
abandons Bhishma
- Mahabharata, Book
6, Chapter 120
The Sauviras, the Kitavas,
the Easterners, the Westerners, the Northerners, the Malavas, the Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Sivis, the Vasatis, the Salwas,
the Sayas, the Trigartas, the Amvashthas, and the Kaikeyas, these and many other illustrious warriors, afflicted with arrows
and pained by their wounds, abandoned Bhishma in that battle while he was fighting with the diadem-decked Arjuna.
After Bhishma's
fall, fighting under Drona
- Mahabharata, Book
7, Chapter 7
The Madras, the Trigartas
the Amvashthas, the Westerners, the Northerners, the Malavas, the Surasenas, the Sudras the Maladas, the Sauviras, the Kaitavas,
the Easterners, and the Southerners placing Duryodhana and Karna at their head, forming the rear guard, gladdened warriors of their own army.
Drona's Garuda
Military-Formation
- Mahabharata, Book
7, Chapter 20
Bhutasarman, and Kshemasarman,
and the valiant Karakaksha, and the Kalingas, the Singhalas, the Easterners, the Sudras, the Abhiras, the Daserakas, the Sakas,
the Yavanas, the Kamvojas, the Hangsapadas, the Surasenas, the Daradas, the Madras, and the Kalikeyas, with hundreds and thousands
of elephants, steeds, cars, and foot-soldiers were stationed at its neck.
Drona encounters
Arjuna
- Mahabharata, Book
7, Chapter 88
The Abhishahas, the
Surasenas, the Sivis, the Vasatis, the Mavellakas, the Lilithyas, the Kaikeyas, the Madrakas, the Narayana Gopalas, and the
various tribes of the Kamvojas who had before been vanquished by Karna, all of whom were regarded as very brave, placing Drona at their head, and becoming regardless of their lives, rushed towards Arjuna.
Resisting Arjuna
for aiding Drona
- Mahabharata, Book
7, Chapter 90
The Abhishahas, the
Surasenas, the Sivis, the Vasatis began to scatter their arrowy showers on Arjuna.
Resisting Satyaki
for aiding Drona
- Mahabharata, Book
7, Chapter 90
Then the brave warriors
of the Surasenas endeavoured to check Satyaki, striking him with showers of shafts, like a driver striking an infuriated elephant with the hook.
Destruction of
some Surasenas along with Jayadratha
- Mahabharata, Book
7, Chapter 147
King Jayadratha hath been slain, and Somadatta’s son also of great energy, and the Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Sivis, and the Vasatis.
Resisting Yudhisthira
for aiding Drona
- Mahabharata, Book
7, Chapter 154
Yudhisthira cutting off the Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Valhikas, and the Vasatis, he caused the earth to be miry with flesh and blood.
And he also despatched within a trice, by means of many shafts the Yaudheyas, the Malavas, and large numbers of the Madrakas.
Resisting Bhima
for aiding Drona
- Mahabharata, Book
7, Chapter 158
Bhima, mangling the Abhishahas, the Surasenas, and other Kshatriyas difficult to defeat in battle, made the earth miry with blood.
Destruction of
Surasenas aiding Karna
- Mahabharata, Book
8, Chapter 5
The Vasatis, numbering
2,000, effectual smiters of all, as also the Surasenas endued with prowess, have all been slain in battle. The Abhishahas,
clad in mail, capable of smiting effectually, and fierce in battle, also the Sivis, those foremost of car-warriors, with the
Kalingas, have all been slain. Those other heroes also, the Narayana Gopas, who live and grew in Gokula, have been slain by
Savyasaci (Arjuna). Many thousands of Srenis, as also the samsaptakas, approaching Arjuna, have all dead.
Surasenas on
the side of the Pandavas
- Mahabharata, Book
8, Chapter 47
Kripa and Kritavarma, and Sakuni accompanied by troops fought with the Kosalas, the Kasis, the Matsyas, the Karusas, the Kaikayas, and the Surasenas.
- Mahabharata, Book
8, Chapter 48
Aiming then, five irresistible
shafts, Karna, otherwise called Vaikartana or Vrisha, slew five Pancala warriors. The five Pancalas that he slew in that battle were Bhanudeva and Citrasena and Senavindu and Tapana and Surasena.
(The above passage indicates that a part of Surasena Kingdom, was under the territories of the Panchala Kingdom).
Karna rating
the qualities of various tribes
- Mahabharata, Book
8, Chapter 45
This article is about the kingdom of Gurjara in Indian epic
literature. For the people, see Gujjar.
Gurjara Kingdom (also known as Gujjars, Go Rashtra, Gopas, Gopa Rashtra, Go Jana Rashtra etc) was one among the many kingdoms ruled by Yadava kings in the central and western India.
During the Mahabharata period, they were on their migratory phase from Mathura to Dwaraka. In the epic Mahabharata, they were mentioned as Gopa Rashtras and as Gopas. They have participated in the Kurukshetra War, siding with Duryodhana, though they had close kinship with Vasudeva Krishna. Gurjaras or Gujjars later inhabited the eastern valley of Aravalli Range in Rajasthan. Finally some tribes migrated to Gujarat, thus giving the name Gujarasrtra or Gujarat to the Indian state Gujarat.
References
in Mahabharata
Gopa Rashra was mentioned
as a kingdom in Ancient India (Bharata Varsha) along with the Pansu Rashtras, the Karityas, the Adhirjayas ( Karusha king Dantavatra is often designated as the ruler of the Adhirajyas or Adhirjayas), the Kuladyas, the Mallarashtras etc. (6,9)
Role in Kurukshetra
War
Gopas where allied
with Kauravas
Though the Gopas were kinsmen and armymen of Vasudeva Krishna, they were allied with Kauravas, due to a pact made between Vasudeva Krishna, Arjuna and Duryodhana
The pact of Vasudeva Krishna to Arjuna and Duryodhana:- There is a large body of cowherds known as the Narayanas, all of whom are able to fight in the thick of battle. These soldiers
shall be sent to one of you and I alone, resolved not to fight on the field, and laying down my weapons, will go to the other.
Arjuna selected Vasudeva Krishna and Duryodhana selected Krishna's army. (5,7)
Many thousands of Gopas
with a large Gopayana force battled in the Kurukshetra War, in Kauravas side, against the Pandavas, along with other armies, like the Madras, the Sauviras, the Gandharas, the Trigartas and the Kalingas. (6,71)
Battle against
Arjuna
While Arjuna was proceeding towards Bhagadatta, the mighty Samsaptaka car-warriors (a division of the Trigarta army), numbering 14000, consisting of 10000 Gopalas or Narayanas who used to follow Vasudeva Krishna, summoned Arjuna to battle. (7,25).
The Abhishahas, the
Surasenas, the Sivis, the Vasatis, the Mavellakas, the Lilithyas, the Kaikeyas, the Madrakas, the Narayana Gopalas, and the various tribes of the Kamvojas who had before been vanquished by Karna, placing Drona at their head rushed towards Arjuna. (7,88)
The Narayana troops
and the Gopalas were placed in the Makara battle-array formed by the Kaurava generallisimo Karna. (8,11)
The Samsaptakas and
Gopalas again fight with Arjuna (8,53)
Destruction of
the army of Gopas
Those heroes, the Narayana
Gopas who live and grew in Gokula (Gokul is a place in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, in those days, part of the Surasena Kingdom), who were exceedingly wrathful in battle, and who never retreated from the field have been slain by Arjuna. (8,5).
At (9,2), it is mentioned
again that the Narayanas have been slain, as also the Gopalas.
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