Political History Of Ancient India

SR No.: 032292
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hemchandra Raychaudhari
Publisher: University of Calcutta
Publication Year: 1950
Total Pages: 714
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 100

PAÑCHĀLA CLANS
71 division because the Samhit-opanishad Brāhmaṇa makes mention of the Prāchya (eastern ) Pañchālas. The existence of the other two may, however, be hinted at in the expression tryanila, "threefold”, occurring in the Vedic texts. One of the ancient capitals of Pañchāla was Kāmpilya which has been identified with Kampil on the old Ganges between Budaun and Furrukhabad. Another Pañchāla town Parivakrā or Parichakrā is mentioned in the satapatha Brāhmana. It is identified by Weber with Ekachakrā of the Mahābhārata.5
The Pañchālas, as their name indicates, probably consisted of five clans--the Krivis, the Turvašas, the Kesins, the Sriñjayas and the Somakas. Each of these clans is known to be associated with one or more princes mentioned in the Vedic texts—the Krivis with Kravya Pañchāla, the Turvašas or Taurvasas with Sona Sātrāsaha, the Keśins with Kesin Dālbhya, the Sriñjayas with Daivavāta, Prastoka, Vitahavya, Suplan or Sahadeva Sārñjaya and Dush-țarītu, and the Somakas with Somaka Sāhadevya. Of the kings only the first three are definitely associated with Pañchāla.
The Krivis appear in a ħigvedic hymn which also mentions the Sindhu (Indus) and the Asikni (Chenāb). But their actual habitation is nowhere clearly indicated.
1 Ved.. Ind., I. 469. Cf. also Patañjali (Kielhorn's ed. Vol. I, p. 12) and Ptolemy's Prasiake (vii. 1. 53) which included the towns of Adisdara ( ? Ahi chhatra) and Kanagora (? Kanauj).
2 Vedic Index, I. 187. . . - 3 Vedic Index I. 149 ; Cunn. in JASB, 1865, 178 ; AGI, 1924. 413. 4 XIII. 5. 4. 7.
5 Ved. Ind.. I. 494. ** • 6 According to the Purānas (Brahma P. XIII. 94 f. cf. Matsya, 50. 3) 'Mudgala,' 'Spiñjaya,' Bșihadishu,' 'Yavinara' and 'Ksimilāśva' were the constituent elements of the Panchāla Janapada.