Dashrajna War of the Rigveda - The First Epochal War of India

We often wonder about the origins of the word Bharat (भारत).

The earliest traceable origin of the word goes back to Rigveda, to be more precise, to the epochal Dāśarājña war? In the war, a king named Sudās from the Bharata (भरत) clan emerged victorious.

Dāśarājña war is the earliest recorded war in Indian history, and its memories are found in various mandalas of Rigveda.

On the occasion of the 75th Independence day of India, we bring you one of the very first public talks on the Dāśarājña war, which is delivered by Dr. Mugdha Gadgil

[kapsshashi]

Dear ma, I'm from Malaysia and have just found your channel. I am proud that you are also one of the many Hindus who are involved in enlightening Hindus like me about Bharat and its history. I wish you many success and hope there will be more enlightened souls like me in Bharat as well as throughout the world. We need to re-write Bharat's history books so that children from a young age will know how great a civilization Bharat was. Thank you and god bless all who have contributed towards this video.

[rajibchowdhury]

I am from Bangladesh like to hear you about Hinduism. Your every effort giving me enormous joy and enthusiasm. Thank you ma'am. God bless you and keep the spirit up 🙏,

[msriram]

First heard about this from Abhijit Chavda who has kept making references to this war as important. you have provided a scholarly explanation. Thank you 🙏

[rakeshrathore]

Ma'am naman to you for enlightening us. We were taught in NCERT books that in India we did not have a concept of a nation. It came from Europe.

[VIWA]

I lament my proficiency in English, and feel sad that I could not master Sanskrit being born in Bharatavarsha 😌

[dharanidharpal]

Let Bharat win this war of Light against darkness, of Truth against falsehood, of Ananda against suffering, of Immortality against death.

[satishtalikota]

"Prachina Bharata" must be a compulsory subject in schools from 1std to 12th. Hope there is a syllabus structure available.

[ishitabhatt]

More such short and lucid lectures on different aspects of the vedas are needed.

[priyankas]

It is how we need to reconnect and represent. I am ready to 🙋‍♀️ volunteer.
Thank you ma'am. 😊

[kevinin]

Its great to take a deep dive into Rig Ved and understand about its most important Puru king Sudas. Would be great if Rig Ved can be explained Chronologically and also with timelines?

[saiecorp]

Dr. Mugdha Gadgil mam, very interesting and informative talk on Dashragna war. Dashragna war is a historical event recorded in Rigved. Hitherto, Rigved was considered as religious text of Indians. But Dashragna war proves antiquity and historicity of Rigved and other vedic texts. My take on Dashragna war is -
1. When vedas were compiled by maharshi Vyas, he could get only few ritchas and references, it proves that war had taken place in antiquity that it had faded from public memory (from shruti, smruti, puran and etitas इतिहास).
2. From the names of ancient tribes and clans it can be said that war had taken place in pre vedic era. And it proves that Indra and Varuna are not vedic gods, but they existed in pre Vedic era, too. (Prevedic gods are Mitr, Pushan, Bhag and Varun. Indra was getting promience in that era as a god of war).
3. If you see story of king Yayati in puranas, it said he had five sons, Puru, Yadu, Druhu, Turvasu and Anu. King Yayati gave his kingdom to Puru. These are nothing but five ancient clans existed in pre vedic era.
4. Though king Sudas is from Bharat clan, king Bharat himself is from Puru clan/tribe. So king Sudas is a Puru-Bharat king.
5. Dashragna war took place in two stages on bank of Parushni and on banks of Yamuna.
6. There is no evidence to consider that it was war of priests. Before Vishwamitr, Bharadwaj was guru of king Sudas. When Vishwamitr was removed and Vasisth became guru of Sudas, Vishwamitr accepted it (his sacking) and did nothing against bharat king, Sudas.
6. Gurus were advisors to king in all affairs including war. There is a mention of flood in Parushni and drowning of enemy (albeit by prayers to Indra). Here it is interesting to note that Purashni, Shatadru and all rivers in Punjab are high flowing rivere. And to divert their waters for irrigation stone bunds or check dams are created on river bank to obstruct flowing water. This obstructed water is taken through canals, these bunds are called as Pur( and Indra is Purandar). Under Vasistha's guidance these check dams were broken by Sudas, creating artificial flood and drowning of enemy.
7. Vedic India spread from present Hariyana to Afghanistan, Persia, Parthia, present Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Caspian sea to Anatolia (* research by Shrikant Talger on linguistics of Rigved and Avesta).
These were just few points.
Thank you very much for your lecture on Dashragna war. 🙏🙏

[guharup]

Amazing didn’t know bori was on yute. Subbed. What an amazing day I found this channel and heard this wonderful explanation. My mind is filled with wonder about my ancestors.

[vinaytripathi]

Amazing to have picked up on views like this... It was around thousand only in first week, so happy to see how well people have received this priceless video of yours... Bhartiyas around the globe are searching to know their true history a d you are giving them that with such videos...
I hope and pray that you would continue these efforts of yours..

[millennialmind]

10 main tribes with Viswamitra, against Vashishtha and King Sudas. It’s a battle between Vashistha and Vishwamitra.
They say Vashistha defeated Viswamitra’s army by destroying a dam on Ravi river which causes flood and considerable damage to his army. They say Vashistha invoked Indra and Indra might have caused the thunder and the lightning which eventually destroyed the dam on Ravi river and caused flood.

[ashwinkumar]

Speaker Dr. Mugdha is clear, lucid, methodical in her analysis and fluid in her presentation. Easy to follow and comprehend, even for a layperson like myself. Thank you very much.

[sudeeplimaye]

Crisp and great presentation by mugdha ma'am. Thank you BORI.
Look forward to more of such sessions from BORI.

[vishenvinod]

We have a large village by the name Ajas in Bandipora district on the banks of Wular lake in Kashmir valley.

[ahambrahmasmi]

‘Uttaram yat samudrasya, Himadreshchaiva dakshinam, varsham tad bharatam nama, Bharatee yatra santatihi’.

[raghunandhkotike]

Ours is the only race who don't know our roots inspite of rich literature and culture. Facts were put in dark accidentally or deliberately also we don't know
Thanks for the recent efforts made by both our scholars and the western intellectual.
We hope this information ought to be included in the school syllabi atleast now onwards.

[simhachalamdasari]

Dear madam aatmanamaskaram to you. Our original culture and history was blocked by Western society . I am very thankful for your kind information to modern society and students of history.