The Battle of Ten Kings [Daśarājña Yuddha] as Mentioned in Rigveda: A Historical Analysis

Dr. Mrinal Chandra Das

doi:10.59828/ijhce.v2i9.136

Authors

Dr. Mrinal Chandra Das Assistant Professor, Department of Sanskrit, University of Gour Banga Malda, West Bengal Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59828/ijhce.v2i9.136

Keywords:

Daśarājña, Rigveda, Sudas, Bharata, Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, Parushni, Sapta Sindhu, Puru, Vedic History.

Abstract

The Battle of Ten Kings, known in Sanskrit as Daśarājña Yuddha or Daśarājña Sangrāma, is the earliest recorded battle in Indian history, described in Mandala 7 of the Rigveda [RV 7.18, 7.33, 7.83]. It was fought on the banks of the Parushni river [modern Ravi] between the Bharata tribe under King Sudas and a confederation of ten tribes led by the Puru. This paper provides a historical analysis of the battle - its political background, participants, geography, weapons, and its result which led to the emergence of Bharata dominance and the naming of the country as Bhārata. It argues that the battle was not a myth but a historical event around 1400-1200 BCE marking the transition from Rigvedic tribalism to territorial kingship in Sapta Sindhu.¹