Nepa Kingdom
Nepa (also known as Nipa, Neepa) was a mountainous kingdom mentioned in the ancient Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. Its modern equivalent is identified as the Kingdom of Nepal, a country located in the mountainous terrain of the Himalayas.
References in Mahabharata
Nepas and king Yudhishthira
Nepas was mentioned as a tribe who was under the sway of the
Sakas, Uddras and many barbarous tribes were living in the woods, while many Vrishnis, Harahunas, and dusky tribes of the Himavat, and many Nipas were residing in regions on the sea-coast, waiting with tributes at the gate (of king Yudhishthira
) (2:5).
Bhima's list of kings
The Nepa king is mentioned in a list of kings whose acts lead to the destruction of their own race, much like in the case of Duryodhana, whose acts lead to the destruction of the Kuru race.
When
Videhas, Varayu among the Mahaujasas, Vahu among the Sundaras, Pururavas among the Diptakshas, Sahaja among the Chedis and Matsyas
and Vrishaddhaja among the Praviras, Dharana among the Chandra-batsyas, Bigahana among the Mukutas and Sama among the Nandivegas (5:74).
Other References
At (13:34) we found the following passage where Nepas are mentioned as Nipas:- The Bhrigus conquered the
Ailas
.
See also
- Kingdoms of Ancient India
References
- Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli