Matsya Purana (critical study)
by Kushal Kalita | 2018 | 74,766 words | ISBN-13: 9788171103058
This page relates ‘Kaurava Dynasty� of the English study on the Matsya-purana: a Sanskrit text preserving ancient Indian traditions and legends written in over 14,000 metrical verses. In this study, the background and content of the Matsyapurana is outlined against the cultural history of ancient India in terms of religion, politics, geography and architectural aspects. It shows how the encyclopedic character causes the text to deal with almost all the aspects of human civilization.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 2.1o - The Kaurava Dynasty
Samvarṇa's son Kuru, as mentioned in the ʳܰṇa[1] and the Ѳٲ[2] was made king by the people. He raised the Paurava realm to great eminence and extended his sway beyond ʰ岵. Kuru carved out a new kingdom, which was named after him as ܰܰṣeٰ, i.e., the land of the Kuru. [3] Kuru’s successors were called the Kurus or Kauravas after him who represents the combination of Bharatas and Purus. The Kurus bacame famous as rulers of their respective states. The territories occupied by them extended to the east far beyond the limits of ܰܰṣeٰ.
The dynasties of Cedi, Magadha and the adjoining countries descended from Kuru's son. One of the noteworthy developments during the period concerned that Vasu the fourth in succession from ܻԱn, conquered the 岹 kingdom of Cedi[4] and thereby obtained the title Caidyoparicara. Vasu divided his territories among his five sons ṛhٳ, Pratyāgraha, ś or Kusamba, Tejas and Maruta or Matsya. The five different dynasties sprang from them. The countries and towns occupied by them were named after themselves. Cedi and Magadha were two of those five kingdoms and another three kingdoms were Kausāmbī, Kuruṣa and Matsya.[5]
ṛhٳ, the eldest son of Vasu, took Magadha with Girivraja as its capital. ṛhٳ of Magadha was succeeded by ś岵, ṛṣ, Punyavān, ٲⲹṛt, ܻԱ, Sarva, Sambhava, Ի and his son Sahadeva during the period concerned.[6] ṛhٳ himself and nine of his successors are supposed to have reigned before the Kali age. Ի, one of the successor of this dynasty was perished at the hand of ṃs and in his place Sahadeva was installed on the throne. Sahadeva was an ally of ṇḍ and was killed in the war. His son Marjari or dz or Somāvit was his successor and the first king of Magadha after the war. From him ṛhٳ dynasty ruled over Magadha approximately for one thousand (1000) years.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid., 50.19, 21
[2]:
Ѳٲ. I. 89.42; I. 90.39-40
[4]:
Ѳٲⲹܰṇa, 50.26
[5]:
Ibid., 50.24-31
[6]:
Ibid.,50.28-33