Battle of Ten Kings - Dasaradnya as narrated in Rik Veda, earliest chronicled battle in India - Part 2

Coming back to battle of 10 kings - according to Rik Vedic hymns this battle took place between king Sudas and Ikshakus on one side and an array of 10 different tribes - Yadus or Yakhshus, Anus, Turvasus, Purus, Jamadgnyas, Shivis, Matsya, Bhrigus, Parshus, Parthavas and several other smaller tribes. All of these names are familar to are who had studied Mahabharata carefully. Bhrigu was the father of Chyavana and his clan had been embroiled in several wars with Kshatriyas. Jamadagni belonged to Bhrigu clan and Parashurama was the most illustrious among them. They were related to Viswamitras as Kushik's son Gadhi, king of Kanyakubja was the father of Viswamitra. On the other hand Richika, the son of Bhrigu was the father of Jamadagni and married Satyavati, the daughter of Gadhi according to Mahabharata. 

Vasistha's clan was the Kulapurahit or priest of the Ikshakus. Sudas was the king of Panchala. Initially with the help of Viswamitra, Sudas crossed Sindhu and did a huge yagna. But there arose a bitter dispute between Shaktyas (from Shakti or son of Vasistha) and Jamadagnyas and Vasistha got closer to Sudas. Viswamitra in rage assembled many kings - including Drahyus, Anus and Turvasus probably from outside India along with kings from within India to inflict a crushing defeat on Sudas. Parthavas, or the clan of Prithus was another contestant. If we remember Mahabharata, Prithu was the son of Vena and was regarded as a just king who first "milked the earth who took the form of a cow" to mitigate sorrows of his subjects. Probably Prithu was instrumental in developing some advanced agricultural techniques for that age that resulted in a bountiful harvest - that's the symbol of milking earth as a cow. In fact in Sanskrit "Gau" or "Go" means cow as well as earth.

Coming back to the story of the battle, it took place on the bank of river Parushni or Ravi. Only known allies of Sudas was Ikshakus. The war was viciously fought and 6666 people were killed. Sudas emerged winner but he had to fight several other battles with other chieftains. Sudas was probably helped by Haihayas. Haihayas were the clan of Sahasravahu Kartavirjarjuna, who according to the Puranas had defeated Ravana. Haihayas and Jamadagnyas were probably antagonistic to each other because later Parashurama destroyed the Haihayas who had killed sage Jamadagni.
The result of the battle of 10 kings was probably establishment of a Bharata clan supremacy which continued till the Mahabharata age. But if we believe Purana and Mahabharata, bloodshed did not stop there. Some time after this probably we have a fierce battle between Bhrigus and Kshatriyas where Bhargavas were mercilessly killed. Then later Parashurama exterminated Kshatriyas. So battle of 10 kings may well have been in the larger context a stage for a vicious turf war between the two upper varnas for domination.

Any way, no doubt this battle was significant from Indian history perspective and it is high time that Indian scholars rather than blindly aping and following their Marxist luminaries and European and American naysayers, start giving some serious attention to the ancient anecdotes. Probably that will reveal many secrets of the ancient world. As Swami Vivekananda said, it is extremely important to know our past, our rich heritage and legacy. If one knows himself to be the descendant of a great ancestor he develops atma sraddha or self respect and thinks twice before committing a foul act. After all a noble born loathes to do any work that would reduce his stature. Most of the evils in our society today are born of that lack of self respect or atma sraddha. It is the lack of self respect that according to Swamiji had resulted in our thousand years of slavery and degeneration. It is high time that we begin to appreciate our inheritance and cultivate that self respect. We have a lot to give to the world and the world is waiting to share our legacy.