Parama Kamboja Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Parama Kamboja Kingdom was mentioned in the epic Mahabharata
to be on the far north west along with the Bahlika, Uttara Madra and Uttara Kuru countries. It is thought to be modern day Tajikistan
, a Central Asian Republic. Arjuna
had visited this place during his military campaign for Yudhisthira
's Rajasuya
sacrifice.
The above Rishikas who are neighbors to the Parama Kambojas are known as northern (uttran) Rishikas. Like the Shakas, Pahlavas, Kambojas
, Paradas, a section of the Rishikas had also migrated to west/south-west India prior to Christian
era. There is an epic
reference to a section of Rishikas who were located in Khandes in Maharashtra
. They were the southern Rishikas. See also: Rishikas
A verse from the Udyoga Parava of Mahabharata attests that the Shakas, Pahlavas, Paradas, Kambojas
-Rishikas
were located on the western-sea shores in Anupa regions ( Anupadesa in/around Narbada/Tapti?) in south-western India:
The Daradas
in the above verse seems to be a copyist’s mistake for the Paradas since it were the Paradas (not the Daradas) who had formed a part of the well known 'pānca-ganah' (five-hordes) of the numerous Puranic texts. A section of Paradas had moved to western India around Christian era and are referenced as Pardane in Ptolemy’s Geography (Dr M. R. Singh).
In Karana Parava, Karna offers in gift Parama Kamboja horses to those who discovers Arjuna
for him in Kurukshetra
(8,38.13-14).
Drona Parava refers to six thousand soldiers of Prabhadaraka/Prabhadrakastu (handsome) Kambojas (i.e. Parama Kambojas), borne by golden chariots pulled by the foremost (shreshthai) steeds of the Parama Kamboja breed of the varigated hue. The steeds were all decked with wreaths of gold (7.23.42-43).
Sauptika Parva tells us that Krishna
was borne in a chariot drawn by horses from the best breed of Parama Kamboja decked with garlands of gold (10.38. 13).
s in the Kurukshetra
war. They have been described as "very handsome, very fortunate Kambojas" (prabhadrakastu Kambojah) , extremely fierce, 'Personification of Death' (samanmrityo), fearful like Yama, the god of death and rich like Kuber i.e. god of treasure (Kambojah.... Yama. vaishravan.opamah: 7.23.42-44). They probably were mercenary soldiers who appear to have joined Kurukshetra
war on invitation from Panchala prince Dhristadyumna
.
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
to be on the far north west along with the Bahlika, Uttara Madra and Uttara Kuru countries. It is thought to be modern day Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
, a Central Asian Republic. Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
had visited this place during his military campaign for Yudhisthira
Yudhisthira
In the great Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira , the eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti, was king of Indraprastha and later of Hastinapura. He was the leader of the Pandava side in the Kurukshetra War...
's Rajasuya
Rajasuya
Rajasuya was a sacrifice, described in detail in the Mahabharata, performed by the ancient kings of India who considered themselves powerful enough to be an emperor...
sacrifice.
- Lohan.paramaKambojan.Rishikan.uttaranapi (2.27.25).
The above Rishikas who are neighbors to the Parama Kambojas are known as northern (uttran) Rishikas. Like the Shakas, Pahlavas, Kambojas
Kambojas
The Kambojas were a kshatriya tribe of Iron Age India, frequently mentioned in Sanskrit and Pali literature.They were an Indo-Iranian tribe situated at the boundary of the Indo-Aryans and the Iranians, and appear to have moved from the Iranian into the Indo-Aryan sphere over time.The Kambojas...
, Paradas, a section of the Rishikas had also migrated to west/south-west India prior to Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
era. There is an epic
Epic poetry
An epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Oral poetry may qualify as an epic, and Albert Lord and Milman Parry have argued that classical epics were fundamentally an oral poetic form...
reference to a section of Rishikas who were located in Khandes in Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. They were the southern Rishikas. See also: Rishikas
Rishikas
Rshikas were an ancient tribe living in the northern division of ancient India. They find references in the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Brhat Samhita, Markendeya Purana etc. Ashtadhyayi of Pāṇini does not mention the Rishikas, but Mahabhasya of Patanjali does make reference to this people. Mahabharata...
A verse from the Udyoga Parava of Mahabharata attests that the Shakas, Pahlavas, Paradas, Kambojas
Kambojas
The Kambojas were a kshatriya tribe of Iron Age India, frequently mentioned in Sanskrit and Pali literature.They were an Indo-Iranian tribe situated at the boundary of the Indo-Aryans and the Iranians, and appear to have moved from the Iranian into the Indo-Aryan sphere over time.The Kambojas...
-Rishikas
Rishikas
Rshikas were an ancient tribe living in the northern division of ancient India. They find references in the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Brhat Samhita, Markendeya Purana etc. Ashtadhyayi of Pāṇini does not mention the Rishikas, but Mahabhasya of Patanjali does make reference to this people. Mahabharata...
were located on the western-sea shores in Anupa regions ( Anupadesa in/around Narbada/Tapti?) in south-western India:
- Shakanam Pahlavana.n cha Daradanam cha ye nripah |
- Kamboja.Rishika ye cha pashchim.anupakash cha ye ||5.5.15||
The Daradas
Daradas
Daradas were a people who lived north and north-east to the Kashmir valley. This kingdom is identified to be the Gilgit region in Kashmir along the river Sindhu or Indus. They are often spoken along with the Kambojas...
in the above verse seems to be a copyist’s mistake for the Paradas since it were the Paradas (not the Daradas) who had formed a part of the well known 'pānca-ganah' (five-hordes) of the numerous Puranic texts. A section of Paradas had moved to western India around Christian era and are referenced as Pardane in Ptolemy’s Geography (Dr M. R. Singh).
Parama Kamboja Horses
Besides numerous references to the excellent steeds of Kamboja, Mahabharata also refers to horses from Parama-Kamboja and also notes them also as of excellent (shreshtha) quality (MBH Gorakhpore rec. 8.38.13-14, 10.13.1-2) etc.In Karana Parava, Karna offers in gift Parama Kamboja horses to those who discovers Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
for him in Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra is a land of historical and religious importance. Historically the land belonged to Punjab now a district in Haryana state of India. It is a holy place and is also known as Dharmakshetra . According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and...
(8,38.13-14).
Drona Parava refers to six thousand soldiers of Prabhadaraka/Prabhadrakastu (handsome) Kambojas (i.e. Parama Kambojas), borne by golden chariots pulled by the foremost (shreshthai) steeds of the Parama Kamboja breed of the varigated hue. The steeds were all decked with wreaths of gold (7.23.42-43).
Sauptika Parva tells us that Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
was borne in a chariot drawn by horses from the best breed of Parama Kamboja decked with garlands of gold (10.38. 13).
Parama Kambojas in Kurukshetra War
Drona Parava of Mahabharata refers to 6000 soldiers from the Parama Kamboja group who had sided with the Pandavas against the KauravaKaurava
The term Kaurava is a Sanskrit term, that means the descendants of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahābhārata.The term is used in the Mahābhārata with two meanings:...
s in the Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra is a land of historical and religious importance. Historically the land belonged to Punjab now a district in Haryana state of India. It is a holy place and is also known as Dharmakshetra . According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and...
war. They have been described as "very handsome, very fortunate Kambojas" (prabhadrakastu Kambojah) , extremely fierce, 'Personification of Death' (samanmrityo), fearful like Yama, the god of death and rich like Kuber i.e. god of treasure (Kambojah.... Yama. vaishravan.opamah: 7.23.42-44). They probably were mercenary soldiers who appear to have joined Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra is a land of historical and religious importance. Historically the land belonged to Punjab now a district in Haryana state of India. It is a holy place and is also known as Dharmakshetra . According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and...
war on invitation from Panchala prince Dhristadyumna
Dhristadyumna
Dhrishtadyumna , also known as Draupada, was the son of Drupada and brother of Draupadi and Shikhandi in the epic Mahābhārata...
.
Books/References
- MahabharataMahabharataThe Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli