Dasarajna War (Battle of Ten Kings)

“Dasarajna War” also known as “Battle of Ten Kings” is one of the oldest epic battles of the ancient period. This battle was fought in the Vedic era, the early Bronze age period in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. This historical battle was an epic war. It was fought between the emperors of Bharatas (Aryans Tribe) on one side and the consortium of ten Kings on the other side. After this war, the political and geographical structure of Bharatavarsha  (Indian subcontinent) was substantially changed.

Till many centuries, it was believed as no such war ever happened. It was mentioned in scriptures as a mythological story of the battles between humans, together with Gods and ancient legends. It was always considered as fictitious, with no link to any real event. Only In the last few decades with the help of some historians, scholars enough facts were provided. And now it is considered an important event in the ancient Indian subcontinent by many historians.

We can find the reference of this war in Rigveda, the first and the oldest of Vedas. Vedas are one of the oldest sacred scriptures available in Hinduism. Vedas are the most authoritative of all the scriptures in Hinduism. Many of the Rigveda manuscripts are also included in UNESCO Memory of the World Register. It is added as being among the first literary documents in the history of humankind, they transcend far beyond their identity as scriptures. In Rigveda Samhitas 7th Mandal, we find references about this Battle of Ten Kings. This battle took place between King Sudas who were descendants of Bharatas and a group of ten or more kings. This is why the battle is called Dasarajana (Dasha meaning ten and Rajanya meaning kingdoms in Sanskrit).

This Battle is expected by historians to have been fought around c. 3000 BCE. These kingdoms were mostly around seven rivers including river Sarasvati, In the present day, it would be in eastern Pakistan and northern India. Sudas was a Bharata king of the Tristus family who was settled in the region for a long period. They later came to be known as Bharatvarta. Sudas was also considered as the ancestor of the Ikshvaku dynasty, the ancestor of Lord Rama of Ayodhya. It is mentioned that the war of ten kings happened on the bank of river Parushni (a present-day known as river Ravi).

(Image: Public Domain)

The ten kings who fought against Sudas were: Purus, Bhalanas, Alinas, Turvasha, Bhruigus, Druhyu, Anus, Parshus, Simyu. The main leaders from the ten kings’ side were Pururs. This war is mentioned as it was fought for a long time. In this war, Sudas defeated all ten kings and their army. It is mentioned in Rigveda that rivers played an important role in Sudas in winning the war. Sage Vasistha helped Sudas in defeating the ten kings with the help of God Indra who drowned the enemy army.

As to their goal they sped to their destruction: they sought Paruṣṇī; e’en the swift returned not.Indra abandoned, to Sudās the manly, the swiftly flying foes, unmanly babblers.

Rigveda, Mandala 7.18..9

There are references in Mandala 7 of Rigveda that more than 6666 people were killed in this war. It is also mentioned that soon after this war Sudas fought another war on the bank of the Yamuna river and defeated the other three kings as well.

Sudas were mentioned in Rigveda as the firm believers of Aryan values. After this war, Sudas expanded its region, collected heavy war prices in the form of tax from enemies. Sudas also gave a handsome gift to Sage Vashishtha which is again mentioned in Rigveda :

Priest-like, with praise, I move around the altar, earning Paijavana's reward, O Agni, Two hundred cows from Devavan's descendant, two chariots from Sudās with mares to draw them. Gift of Paijavana, four horses bear me in foremost place, trained steeds with pearl to deck them. Sudās's brown steeds, firmly-stepping, carry me and my son for progeny and glory.

Rigveda, Mandala 7.18.22

Despite being one of the oldest wars even before great Indian epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana, it is almost forgotten. Not a lot of people know about this great battle!!

Published Date: 10-April

Images : Public Domain

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Maharaja Dharam Chand Chib King of Bhimber, Mirpur and Nowshera, of Jammu and Kashmir.

Maharaja Dharam Chand Chib King of Bhimber, Mirpur and Nowshera, of Jammu and Kashmir. 

who married a Mughal Princess during the reign of Babur.

 Dharam Chand Chib was a Sufi saint. He was the first Chib Rajput who married a Mughal Princess during the reign of Babur. He was a famed wise man who was requested to treat the ailing emperor, Babur, in Delhi. As a reward, Babur gave his daughter in marriage to him. He also married Humayun's niece who is the daughter of Pir Haibat, of Kandahar, which ultimately leads to his death during Akbar's reign. Raja Shadab Khan, was a contemporary and feudatory of the Emperors Babur, Humayun and Akbar; and he ruled over the districts of Bhimber, Mirpur and Nowshera, within the present limits of Jammu and Kashmir. In consideration of his services rendered to the Emperor Akbar in Kandahar, he was made Governor of Kashmir with the title of Shadab Khan. He also served as governor of Kandahar during Akbar's reign. His tribe, the Chib Rajputs of Kashmir and Punjab, come to his shrine in Jandi Chontra in Bhimber to pay their respects and ritualistically celebrate the births of their children. In the last few decades, the popularity of the shrine has grown among non-tribe members due to the belief that visiting the shrine will help childless couples to bear children.Originally Rajput, the ruling family embraced Islam at a later date which is uncertain, but probably not later than the time of Babur, from whom the head of the family, named Shadi, is said to have received a confirmation for his possessions. He took the name of Shadab Khan, and is said to have accompanied Humayun on some of his expeditions, and was finally killed by one, Pir Haibat, of Kandahar, and has ever since been venerated as a saint. His tomb is near the town of Bhimber, and is a place of pilgrimage to which both Hindus and Muslims go to. The shrine is called Sur Sadi Shahid. At his shrine every Chib child must be presented on attaining a certain age, so that the lock of hair, specially retained for the purpose, may be cut off with much ceremony; without this he cannot become a true chib.