Sauvira Kingdom

References to Sauvira in the Mahabharata

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Cultural affinity

Main article:

Bahlika Culture

Culturally, the Sauviras were mentioned by the character

The

Mathura are well skilled in fighting with bare arms. The Southerners are skilled in fighting sword in hand. (12:100)^[7]

In book 5, section 133 of the Mahabharata, the character Kunti tells the story of Vidula. Vidula persuaded her son, who was the king of Sauvira but banished by the Sindhu king, to fight against the Sindhus and take back his kingdom from them: "And the princess Vidula, one day, rebuked her own son, who, after his defeat by the king of the Sindhus, lay prostrate with heart depressed by despair." (5:133)^[8] "Rejoice, O son, and make thyself happy in the possession of wealth in the company of the daughters of the Sauviras and do not, in weakness of heart, be ruled over by the daughters of the Saindhavas." (5:134)^[9] "Pierced by the wordy arrows of his mother, the son roused himself like a steed of proud mettle and achieved [defeating the Sindhus] all that his mother had pointed out." (5:136)

Kings of Sauvira

Rahugan

There is a mention of King Rahugan meeting with Bharat followed by an extensive dialogue between them about life and its meaning. ^[10]

Suvira

The kingdom of Sauvira was founded by Prince Suvira, one of the sons of Sivi. The neighboring kingdoms of Madra, Kekaya, and Sindhu belonged to Madraka, Kekaya, and Vrsadarbh, the other three sons of Sivi.^{[citation needed]}

Jayadratha

Jayadratha was the king not only of Sauvira but of Sindhu and other countries as well. (3:265)^[11] The warriors of the Sivi, Sauvira and Sindhu tribes were under the command of Jayadratha. (3:269)^[12]

In section 22 of book 11, Jayadradtha is again mentioned as the king of

A prajapati (patriarch) named

King Suvira is also mentioned in Book 1, Section 67 as one of "many heroic kings on earth."[18]

King "Ajavindu among the Suviras" is mentioned as an annihilator of his own race. (5:74)^[19]

Sauvira in the Kurukshetra War

In the

"[T]he diverse tribes of the Sauviras, the Vasatis, and the Kshudrakas, and the Malavas, all these, at the command of the royal son of Santanu [Bhishma], quickly approached Kiritin [Arjuna] for battle." (6:59)[24]

Other references in the Mahabharata

• "Prompted by sinful motives, this one [meaning
  Dwaraka to the country of the Sauviras."(2:44)^[25]
  This is an indication of the ancient route that existed connecting Dwaraka and Sauvira.
• "Manasyu [a king in the line of
  Puru] had for his wife Sauviri. And he begat upon her three sons called Sakta, Sahana, and Vagmi." (1:94)^[26]
  (This may be coincidental.)
• Shalya is mentioned as belonging to the Sauvira clan at (8:9). (This could be a translation error.)