The city of
Indraprastha (
City of Indra) , a city in
ancient IndiaEpic India is the depiction of Greater India in the Sanskrit epics, viz. the Mahabharata and the Ramayana as well as Puranic literature ....
that was the capital of the kingdom led by the Pandavas in the
MahabharataThe Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the . The epic is part of the Hindu itihāsa , and forms an important part of Hindu mythology....
epic. It was located upon the banks of the river
YamunaThe Yamuna is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India...
and close to the modern national capital of
DelhiDelhi, known locally as Dilli , and also by the official name National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest metropolis by population in India...
.
Construction of the city
MahabharataThe Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the . The epic is part of the Hindu itihāsa , and forms an important part of Hindu mythology....
contains a passage (Book1, chapter 209) referring to how the Pandavas made this city on the banks of Yamuna.
After the Pandavas became powerful due to their alliance with
PanchalaThis article is about the kingdom of Panchala during the epic-ages. For the historical kingdom, see Panchala.Panchala Kingdom extended from Himalayas in the north to river Charmanwati in the south during the period of Mahabharata. It had Kuru, Surasena and Matsya kingdoms to the west and the forest...
king
DrupadaDrupada , also known as Yajnasena, is a character in the Mahābhārata. He is king of the land of Panchala.In his youth he studies with, and becomes a friend of Drona. Drona makes him promise to share all his fortunes with him. Later, when Drupada becomes king of Panchaladesa, Drona reminds him of...
, by obtaining as wife
DrupadaDrupada , also known as Yajnasena, is a character in the Mahābhārata. He is king of the land of Panchala.In his youth he studies with, and becomes a friend of Drona. Drona makes him promise to share all his fortunes with him. Later, when Drupada becomes king of Panchaladesa, Drona reminds him of...
's daughter
DraupadiIn the epic Mahābhārata, Draupadi, also known as ' is the daughter of King Drupada of Panchāla, who becomes the wife of the five Pandavas. When Yudhisthira becomes the king of Hastinapura at the end of the war, Draupadi becomes his queen. She is sometimes called kṛṣṇā , which means dark...
, king
DhritarashtraIn the Mahābhārata Dhritarashtra was the son born to Vichitravirya's first wife Ambika. He was fathered by Vyasa. This blind king of Hastinapura was father to a hundred children by his wife Gandhari . These children came to be known as the Kauravas...
of
HastinapuraHastinapur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-History:Hastinapura was the capital of the kingdom of the Kauravas, belonging to the Kuru dynasty of kings....
summoned them to his palace. King Dhritarashtra addressing Yudhishthira, said, ‘Listen, O son of Kunti, with thy brothers, to what I say. Repair ye to
KhandavaprasthaKhandavaprastha was a forest region on the banks of Yamuna river. Pandavas received the region when Dhritrashtra divided the kingdom between his sons and the Pandavas. The forest was consumed by fire, assisted by Krishna and Arjuna. On the vacant land so created, Pandavas extended their capital...
so that no difference may arise again (between you and my sons). If you take up your quarters there no one will be able to do you any injury. Protected by Partha (
ArjunaArjuna, Arjun or Arjunaa is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' , was such a peerless archer that he is often referred to as Jishnu - the undefeatable...
), reside you at Khandavaprastha, taking half of the kingdom.’
Agreeing to what Dhritarashtra said, the Pandavas set out from Hastinapura. And content with half the kingdom, they removed to Khandavaprastha, which was in unreclaimed desert. Then the Pandavas, with
KrishnaKrishna is a deity worshipped across many traditions in Hinduism in a variety of perspectives...
at their head, arriving there, beautified the place and made it a second heaven. And those mighty car-warriors, selecting with Krishna Dwaipayana’s assistance a sacred and auspicious region, performed certain propitiatory ceremonies and measured out a piece of land for their city. Then surrounded by a trench wide as the sea and by walls reaching high up to the heavens and white as the fleecy clouds or the rays of the moon, that foremost of cities looked resplendent like Bhogavati (the capital of the
NagasNaga Kingdom refers to the territory of a tribe called Nagas who were a group of people spread throughout India during the period of the epic Mahabharata. They were also considered as one of the supernatural races like Kinnaras and Yakshas. Not much is known about their territories beyond ancient...
) decked with the Nagas. And it stood adorned with palatial mansions and numerous gates, each furnished with a couple of panels resembling the out-stretched wings of
GarudaThe Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology....
. And it was protected with gateways looking like the clouds and high as the Mandara mountains. And well-furnished with numerous weapons of attack, the missiles of the foes could not make slightest impression on them. And they were almost covered with darts and other missiles like double-tongued snakes. The turrets along the walls were filled with armed men in course of training; and the walls were lined with numerous warriors along their whole length. And there were thousands of sharp hooks and
Sataghnis (machines slaying a century of warriors) and numerous other machines on the battlements. There were also large iron wheels planted on them. And with all these was that foremost of cities adorned. The streets were all wide and laid out excellently; and there was no fear in them of accident. And decked with innumerable mansions, the city became like unto Amaravati and came to be called Indraprastha (like unto
Indra' is the King of the gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology, and also he is the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall....
’s city). In a delightful and auspicious part of the city rose the palace of the Pandavas filled with every kind of wealth and like unto the mansion of the celestial treasurer (
KuberaKubera is the king of the Yakshas and the lord of wealth in Hindu mythology. He is also known as Dhanapati, the lord of riches...
) himself. And it looked like a mass of clouds charged with lightning.
“When the city was built, there came, numerous Brahmanas well-acquainted with all the Vedas and conversant with every language, wishing to dwell there. And there came also unto that town numerous merchants from every direction, in the hope of earning wealth. There also came numerous persons well-skilled in all the arts, wishing to take up their abode there. And around the city were laid out many delightful gardens adorned with numerous trees bearing both fruits and flowers. There were Amras (mango trees) and Amaratakas, and Kadamvas and Asokas, and Champakas; and Punnagas and Nagas and Lakuchas and Panasas; and Salas and Talas (palm trees) and Tamalas and Vakulas, and Ketakas with their fragrant loads; beautiful and blossoming and grand Amalakas with branches bent down with the weight of fruits and Lodhras and blossoming Ankolas; and Jamvus (blackberry trees) and Patalas and Kunjakas and Atimuktas; and Karaviras and Parijatas and numerous other kinds of trees always adorned with flowers and fruits and alive with feathery creatures of various species. And those verdant groves always resounded with the notes of maddened peacocks and Kokilas (blackbirds). And there were various pleasure-houses, bright as mirrors, and numerous bowers of creepers, and charming and artificial hillocks, and many lakes full to the brim of crystal water, and delightful tanks fragrant with lotuses and lilies and adorned with swans and ducks and chakravakas (brahminy ducks). And there were many delicious pools overgrown with fine aquatic plants. And there were also diverse ponds of great beauty and large dimension. And, the joy of the Pandavas increased from day to day, in consequence of their residence in that large kingdom that was peopled with pious men.
Thus in consequence of the virtuous behaviour of Bhishma and king Dhritarashtra towards them, the Pandavas took up their abode in Khandavaprastha. Adorned with those five mighty warriors, each equal unto Indra himself, that foremost of cities looked like Bhogavati adorned with the
NagasNaga Kingdom refers to the territory of a tribe called Nagas who were a group of people spread throughout India during the period of the epic Mahabharata. They were also considered as one of the supernatural races like Kinnaras and Yakshas. Not much is known about their territories beyond ancient...
.
Clearing of the surrounding forest
Mahabharata also has another passage where describing how the surrounding forest of
KhandavaKhandava Forest was an ancient forest mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. It lay to the west of Yamuna river, in modern day Delhi territory. Pandavas cleared this forest to construct their capital city called Indraprastha. This forest was earlier inhabited by Naga tribes. Arjuna and Vasudeva Krishna...
was burnt by
KrishnaKrishna is a deity worshipped across many traditions in Hinduism in a variety of perspectives...
and
ArjunaArjuna, Arjun or Arjunaa is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' , was such a peerless archer that he is often referred to as Jishnu - the undefeatable...
(Mbh 1.229):-
ArjunaArjuna, Arjun or Arjunaa is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' , was such a peerless archer that he is often referred to as Jishnu - the undefeatable...
covered the forest of Khandava with innumerable arrows like a thick fog. When the sky above that forest was thus covered with the arrows of Arjuna no living creature could then escape from below. It so happened that while that forest was burning,
TakshakaTakshaka was one of the Nagas mentioned in the epic Mahābhārata. He lived in a city named Takshasila, which was the new territory of Takshaka after his race was banished by Pandavas headed by Arjuna from the Khandava Forest and Kurukshetra, where they built their new kingdom.- Revenge of...
, the chief of the
NagasNaga Kingdom refers to the territory of a tribe called Nagas who were a group of people spread throughout India during the period of the epic Mahabharata. They were also considered as one of the supernatural races like Kinnaras and Yakshas. Not much is known about their territories beyond ancient...
, was not there, having gone at that time to the field of
KurukshetraKurukshetra is a district in Haryana state of India. Known as a holy place; Kurukshetra earns its name from King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas. What makes it really important is the theory that this was where the Kurukshetra war of the Mahabharata was fought and the Bhagavad Gita...
. But Aswasena, the mighty son of Takshaka, was there. He made great efforts to escape from that fire; but confined by Arjuna’s shafts he succeeded not in finding a way.
The inhabitants of this forest were mentioned as
NagasNaga Kingdom refers to the territory of a tribe called Nagas who were a group of people spread throughout India during the period of the epic Mahabharata. They were also considered as one of the supernatural races like Kinnaras and Yakshas. Not much is known about their territories beyond ancient...
, Asuras and Rakshasas. They made stiff resistance to Arjuna:- Armed with machines vomiting from their throats (mouths?) iron balls and bullets, and
catapultA catapult is any one of a number of non-handheld mechanical devices used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive substances—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it is proven...
s for propelling huge stones, and rockets, they approached to strike Krishna and Arjuna, their energy and strength increased by wrath. But though they rained a perfect shower of weapons, Arjuna, addressing them reproachfully, struck off their heads with his own sharp arrows.
Some of them were displaced and some others were destroyed by this act of Arjuna. Some like the
NagaNaga Kingdom refers to the territory of a tribe called Nagas who were a group of people spread throughout India during the period of the epic Mahabharata. They were also considered as one of the supernatural races like Kinnaras and Yakshas. Not much is known about their territories beyond ancient...
TakshakaTakshaka was one of the Nagas mentioned in the epic Mahābhārata. He lived in a city named Takshasila, which was the new territory of Takshaka after his race was banished by Pandavas headed by Arjuna from the Khandava Forest and Kurukshetra, where they built their new kingdom.- Revenge of...
became a great enemy of the Kurus due to this incident, culminating in the assassination of Kuru king Parikshit, who was the grandson of
ArjunaArjuna, Arjun or Arjunaa is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' , was such a peerless archer that he is often referred to as Jishnu - the undefeatable...
and subsequently leading to the partial destruction of the race of Nagas at the hands of Kuru king
JanamejayaEmperor Janamejaya was the son of Maharaja Parikshit and great-grandson of Arjuna the valiant warrior hero of the Mahābhārata epic. He took up the Kuru throne following the death of his father...
, the son of Parikshit. Some others like
Asura-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asura are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes referred to as demons or sinful. They were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa. The views of Asuras in Hinduism vary due to the many deities who were Asuras then later became known as Devas...
,
MayaIn Hindu mythology, Maya , or Mayasura was a great ancient king of the Asura, Daitya and Rakshasa races upon earth. He was also the chief architect of the peoples of the netherworlds.-Tripura:...
, became an ally of the Pandavas. Maya, to show gratitude to Arjuna for not killing him, made the great palatial sabha (hall) for king
YudhisthiraIn the great Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira , the eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti, was king of Indraprastha and later of Hastinapura. He was the leader of the Pandava side in the Kurukshetra War...
, on the land cleared after burning the Khandava forest.
Construction of the palatial hall by Asura architect Maya
The following passage in Mahabharata narrates how a wonderful palatial hall was constructed by
Asura-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asura are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes referred to as demons or sinful. They were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa. The views of Asuras in Hinduism vary due to the many deities who were Asuras then later became known as Devas...
architect
MayaIn Hindu mythology, Maya , or Mayasura was a great ancient king of the Asura, Daitya and Rakshasa races upon earth. He was also the chief architect of the peoples of the netherworlds.-Tripura:...
in the area cleared by burning the forest (MBh 2.1,3)
Maya Danava, repeatedly spoke to
ArjunaArjuna, Arjun or Arjunaa is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' , was such a peerless archer that he is often referred to as Jishnu - the undefeatable...
-‘O son of Kunti, I am saved by you. I want to return a favor to you'. Arjuna said,--‘O great
Asura-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asura are a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes referred to as demons or sinful. They were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa. The views of Asuras in Hinduism vary due to the many deities who were Asuras then later became known as Devas...
, everything hath already been done by thee (even by this offer of thine). Blest be thou. Go whithersoever thou likest. Be kind and well-disposed towards me, as we are even kind to and well-pleased with thee!’ When Maya persisted
KrishnaKrishna is a deity worshipped across many traditions in Hinduism in a variety of perspectives...
told him:- -‘Let a palatial sabha (meeting hall) as thou choosest, be built (by thee), if thou, O son of
DitiIn Hinduism, Diti is an earth goddess and mother of the Maruts with Rudra. She wanted to have a son who would be more powerful than Indra and so she practiced magic and kept herself pregnant for one year . Indra used a thunderbolt to splinter the fetus into many pieces, the Maruts. She is also...
, who art the foremost of all artists, desirest to do good to Yudhishthira the just. Indeed, build thou such a palace that persons belonging to the world of men may not be able to imitate it even after examining it with care, while seated within. And, O Maya, build thou a mansion in which we may behold a combination of godly, asuric and human designs.’”
Then Krishna and Partha (Arjuna) after having narrated everything unto king Yudhishthira the just, introduced Maya unto him. Yudhishthira received Maya with respect, offering him the honour he deserved. And, O Bharata, Maya accepted that honour thinking highly of it. That great son of
DitiIn Hinduism, Diti is an earth goddess and mother of the Maruts with Rudra. She wanted to have a son who would be more powerful than Indra and so she practiced magic and kept herself pregnant for one year . Indra used a thunderbolt to splinter the fetus into many pieces, the Maruts. She is also...
then recited unto the sons of Pandu the history of the
DanavaDanava is an American hard rock band from Portland, Oregon. Their music fits into the categories of heavy metal, progressive, and psychedelic rock. Their songs often feature a boogie or a gallop. They have sections that riff intensely as well as break free into jams...
Vrisha-parva, and that foremost of artists then, having rested awhile, set himself after much thoughtful planning to build a palace for the illustrious sons of
PanduIn the Mahābhārata epic, Pandu is the son of Vichitravirya and his second wife, Ambalika from Vyasa. He is more popularly known as the father of the Pandavas.-Birth:...
. Having performed on an auspicious day the initial propitiatory rites of foundation and having also gratified thousands of well-versed Brahmanas with sweetened milk and rice and with rich presents of various kinds, measured out a plot of land five thousand cubits square, which was delightful and exceedingly handsome to behold and which was favourable for construction of a building well-suited to the exigencies of every season.
Then Maya Danava addressed Arjuna, saying ‘I now go with thy leave, but shall come back soon. On the north of the Kailasa peak near the mountains of Mainaka, while the Danavas were engaged in a sacrifice on the banks of Vindu lake, I gathered a huge quantity of delightful and variegated vanda (a kind of rough materials) composed of jewels and gems. This was placed in the mansion of Vrishaparva ever devoted to truth. If it be yet existing, I shall come back, O Bharata, with it. I shall then commence the construction of the delightful palace of the Pandavas, which is to be adorned with every kind of gems.
Maya brought all these materials and built the hall. The palace that Maya built consisted of columns of gold, and occupied, an area of five thousand cubits. The palace, possessing an exceedingly beautiful form, like unto that of Agni or Suryya, or Soma, shone in great splendour, and by its brilliance seemed to darken even the bright rays of the sun. And with the effulgence it exhibited, which was a mixture of both celestial and terrestrial light, it looked as if it was on fire. Like unto a mass of new clouds conspicuous in the sky, the palace rose up coming into view of all. Indeed, the palace that the dexterous Maya built was so wide, delightful, and refreshing, and composed of such excellent materials, and furnished with such golden walls and archways, and adorned with so many varied pictures. And eight thousand Rakshasas called Kinkaras, fierce, huge-bodied and endued with great strength, of red coppery eyes and arrowy ears, well-armed and capable of ranging through the air, used to guard and protect that palace. Within that palace Maya placed a peerless tank, and in that tank were lotuses with leaves of dark-coloured gems and stalks of bright jewels, and other flowers also of golden leaves. And aquatic fowls of various species sported on its bosom. Itself variegated with full-blown lotuses and stocked with fishes and tortoises of golden hue, its bottom was without mud and its water transparent. There was a flight of crystal stairs leading from the banks to the edge of the water. The gentle breezes that swept along its bosom softly shook the flowers that studded it. The banks of that tank were overlaid with slabs of costly marble set with pearls. And beholding that tank thus adorned all around with jewels and precious stones, many kings that came there mistook it for land and fell into it with eyes open. Many tall trees of various kinds were planted all around the palace. Of green foliage and cool shade, and ever blossoming, they were all very charming to behold. Artificial woods were laid around, always emitting a delicious fragrance. And there were many tanks also that were adorned with swans and Karandavas and Chakravakas (Brahminy ducks) in the grounds lying about the mansion. And the breeze bearing the fragrance of lotuses growing in water and (of those growing on land) ministered unto the pleasure and happiness of the Pandavas.
Inaugural day at the palatial hall of Indraprastha
(MBh 2.4) Then that chief of men, king Yudhishthira, entered that palatial sabha. Upon the seats in that palace sat, along with the Pandavas, Rishis and kings that came from various countries, viz., Asita and Devala, Satya, Sarpamali and Mahasira; Arvavasu, Sumitra, Maitreya, Sunaka and Vali; Vaka, Dalvya, Sthulasira, Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, and Suka Sumanta, Jaimini, Paila, and the disciples of Vyasa. Tittiri, Yajanavalkya, and Lomaharshana with his son; Apsuhomya, Dhaumya, Animandavya; and Kausika; Damoshnisha and Traivali, Parnada, and Varayanuka, Maunjayana, Vayubhaksha, Parasarya, and Sarika; Valivaka, Silivaka, Satyapala, and Krita-srama; Jatukarna, and Sikhavat. Alamva and Parijataka; the exalted Parvata, and the great Muni Markandeya; Pavitrapani, Savarna, Bhaluki, and Galava. Janghabandhu, Raibhya, Kopavega, and Bhrigu: Harivabhru, Kaundinya, Vabhrumali, and Sanatana, Kakshivat, and Ashija, Nachiketa, and Aushija, Nachiketa, and Gautama;
Painga, Varaha, Sunaka, and Sandilya of great ascetic merit: Kukkura, Venujangha, Kalapa and Katha;--these virtuous and learned Munis with senses and souls under complete control, and many others as numerous, all well-skilled in the Vedas and Vedangas and conversant with (rules of) morality and pure and spotless in behaviour, waited on the illustrious Yudhishthira, and gladdened him by their sacred discourses. And so also numerous principal Kshatriyas, such as the illustrious and virtuous Mujaketu, Vivarddhana, Sangramjit, Durmukha, the powerful Ugrasena;
Kakshasena, the lord of the Earth, Kshemaka the invincible; Kamatha, the king of
KambojaKamboja may refer to:*Kambojas, an ancient tribe of the of the Hindukush in Iron Age India*Kamboja Kingdom, one of the Mahajanapadas of Iron Age India*Kamboja-Pala Dynasty of Bengal*Kamboj, a clan of South Asia...
, and the mighty Kampana who alone made the Yavanas to ever tremble at his name just as the god that wieldeth the thunder-bolt maketh those Asuras, the
KalakeyasThe Kalakeyas were the descendants of Kala, one among the 13 mothers or matriarchs mentioned in the Puranas and the epics. They are also called Asuras, but that name is also used for the Danavas and Daityas....
, tremble before him; Jatasura, and the king of the
MadraMadra or Madraka is the name of an ancient region and its inhabitants, located in the north-west division of the ancient Indian sub-continent.-Uttaramadra division:...
kas,
KuntiAs per the epic Mahabharata, the Kunti Kingdom was the kingdom of Kuntibhoja, one of the prominent kings among the Bhoja Yadavas.Kunti, the mother of Pandavas and the first wife of Kuru king Pandu, was the adopted daughter of the king Kuntibhoja. Her given name was Pritha and she was a sister of...
, Pulinda the king of the
KiratasKirata Kingdom in Sanskrit literature and Hindu mythology refers to any kingdom of the Kirata people, who were dwellers mostly in the Himalayas and North-East India. They took part in the Kurukshetra War along with Parvatas and other Himalayan tribes...
, and the kings of
AngaAnga was a kingdom ruled by non Vedic rulers. Anga king Lomapada was a friend of Kosala king Dasaratha. Kosala Princess Santha, elder to Raghava Rama, lived as the daughter of Lomapada, since he was childless. Duryodhana established Karna as the ruler of Angas. It is believed that there were many...
and
VangaVanga was a kingdom located in the eastern part of the Indian Subcontinent, comprising present-day West Bengal, India and modern Bangladesh. It was a seafaring nation of Ancient India...
, and
PandryaPundra was an eastern kingdom located in West Bengal, Bangladesh and Purnia . The bhats of the Pundir Rajputs, state that, having had their origins in Telangana, the Pundirs are descendants of the great Pundra dynasty. A Pundra king challenged Vasudeva Krishna by imitating his attributes...
, and the king of Udhara, and Andhaka; Sumitra, and
SaivyaSivi is mentioned as a kingdom and as the name of a king in the epic Mahabharata. Probably there was a Sivi king who became famous as Sivi or the kingdom itself may be named after him. Sivi king was famous for his truthfulness...
that slayer of foes; Sumanas, the king of the Kiratas, and Chanur the King of the Yavanas, Devarata, Bhoja, and the so called Bhimaratha, Srutayudha—the king of
KalingaKalinga forms the sea shore of Orissa state in India. Kuru king Duryodhana's wife was from Kalinga. Kalingas sided with Duryodhana in the Kurukshetra War...
, Jayasena the king of
MagadhaMagadha was a kingdom ruled by non-Vedic kings. Jarasandha was the greatest among them during epic times. His capital was Rajagriha or Rajgir a modern hill resort in Bihar. Jarasandha's continuous assault on the Yadava kingdom of Surasena resulted in their withdrawal from central India to western...
; and Sukarman, and Chekitana, and Puru that slayer of foes;
Ketumata, Vasudana, and
VaidehaVideha was the kingdom of the royal sage Seeradhwaja Janaka. He is the father of Sita the wife of Raghava Rama. Rama's brothors married the sisters of Sita. Thus Videha Kingdom was closely allied to Kosala Kingdom. Mithila was the capital of Videha, now identified with Janakpur, a town in Southern...
and Kritakshana: Sudharman, Aniruddha, Srutayu endued with great strength; the invincible
AnuparajaAnupa was a kingdom mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. It lay to the north west of Vidarbha, in Maharashtra state of India. It was founded by the races from the western kingdoms like Madra and Kamboja...
, the handsome Karmajit; Sisupala with his son, the king of
KarushaKarusha Kingdom was one among the many kingdoms ruled by Yadava kings in the central and western India.It lies to the south of Chedi. Karusha king Dantavaktra supported Chedi king Sishupala and was killed by Vasudeva Krishna...
; and the invincible youths of the Vrishni race, all equal in beauty unto the celestials, viz., Ahuka, Viprithu, Sada, Sarana, Akrura, Kritavarman, and Satyaka, the son of Sini; and Bhismaka, Ankriti, and the powerful Dyumatsena, those chief of bowmen viz., the
KaikeyasKekeya is a kingdom grouped among the western kingdoms in the epic Mahabharata. The epic Ramayana also mentions Kekeya as a western kingdom. One of the wives of Dasaratha, the king of Kosala and father of Raghava Rama, was from Kekeya kingdom and was known as Kaikeyi...
and
YajnasenaDrupada , also known as Yajnasena, is a character in the Mahābhārata. He is king of the land of Panchala.In his youth he studies with, and becomes a friend of Drona. Drona makes him promise to share all his fortunes with him. Later, when Drupada becomes king of Panchaladesa, Drona reminds him of...
of the Somaka race; these
KshatriyaKshatriya is one of the four varnas in Hinduism. It constitutes the military and ruling order of the traditional Vedic-Hindu social system as outlined by the Vedas and the Laws of Manu...
s endured with great might, all well-armed and wealthy, and many others also regarded as the foremost, all waited upon Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, in that Sabha, desirous of ministering to his happiness. And those princes also, endued with great strength, who dressing themselves in deer-skins learnt the science of weapons under
ArjunaArjuna, Arjun or Arjunaa is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' , was such a peerless archer that he is often referred to as Jishnu - the undefeatable...
, waited upon Yudhishthira. The princes also of the Vrishni race, viz., Pradyumna (the son of Rukmini) and Samva, and
YuyudhanaSatyaki, also spelled Saatyaki, , also called Yuyudhana, is a powerful warrior belong to the Yadava-Vrishni dynasty of Lord Krishna, in the Mahābhārata epic. He is known as the Invencible....
the son of Satyaka and Sudharman and Aniruddha and Saivya that foremost of men who had learnt the science of arms under Arjuna these and many other kings, O lord of the Earth, used to wait on Yudhishthira on that occasion. And that friend of Dhananjaya, Tumvuru, and the
GandharvaGandharva Kingdom refers to the territory inhabited by a tribe called Gandharvas who were one among the Exotic Tribes of Ancient India. They were well versed in music and dance. Gandarvas were also powerful warriors who roamed in Indian kingdoms disregarding any Indian king or Kshatriya warrior...
Chittasena with his ministers, any many other Gandharvas and
ApsaraAn Apsara , Apsara or Tep Apsar in Khmer, Accharā or A Bố Sa La Tư , Bidadari , also known as Vidhya Dhari, is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist...
s, well-skilled in vocal and instrumental music and in cadence and
KinnarasKinnara Kingdom refers to the territory of a tribe called Kinnaras who one among the exotic tribes, mentioned along with others like Devas , Asuras , Pisachas, Gandharvas, Kimpurushas, Vanaras, Suparnas, Rakshasas, Bhutas and Yakshas...
also well-versed in (musical) measures and motions singing celestial tunes in proper and charming voices, waited upon and gladdened the sons of
PanduIn the Mahābhārata epic, Pandu is the son of Vichitravirya and his second wife, Ambalika from Vyasa. He is more popularly known as the father of the Pandavas.-Birth:...
and the Rishis who sat in that Sabha. And seated in that Sabha, those bull among men, of rigid vows and devoted to truth, all waited upon Yudhishthira like the celestials in heaven waiting upon
BrahmaBrahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. He is not to be confused with the Supreme Cosmic Spirit in Hindu Vedanta philosophy known as Brahman. Brahmā's consort is Saraswati, the goddess of learning...
.
Aftermath
After the Pandavas were banished by the Kauravas into forest, Indraprastha fell into the hands of Kaurava crown prince
DuryodhanaIn the Hindu epic the Mahābhārata, Duryodhana is the eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari, the eldest of the one hundred Kaurava brothers, and the chief antagonist of the Pandavas. He was an avatar of the demon Kali who had possessed the soul of Nala, forcing him to gamble...
. Later when Pandavas defeated the Kauravas in
Kurukshetra WarThe Kurukshetra War is the war between the Kauravas and Pandavas, which forms an essential component of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata...
, and king
YudhisthiraIn the great Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira , the eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti, was king of Indraprastha and later of Hastinapura. He was the leader of the Pandava side in the Kurukshetra War...
, ascended the throne of
HastinapuraHastinapur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-History:Hastinapura was the capital of the kingdom of the Kauravas, belonging to the Kuru dynasty of kings....
, his brother
ArjunaArjuna, Arjun or Arjunaa is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' , was such a peerless archer that he is often referred to as Jishnu - the undefeatable...
stayed at Indraprastha, with
KrishnaKrishna is a deity worshipped across many traditions in Hinduism in a variety of perspectives...
, his friend and teacher, and looked after the matters of boarders of the kingdom. When Pandavas renounced the kingdom and went into forest as ascetics, Arjuna's grandson Parikshit was installed king of
HastinapuraHastinapur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-History:Hastinapura was the capital of the kingdom of the Kauravas, belonging to the Kuru dynasty of kings....
and
YuyutsuYuyutsu in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, was the only son of Dhritarashtra who survived the Kurukshetra war.Fearing problems with Gandhari's pregnancy which had continued for over a year, Dhritrashtra impregnated a palace maid servant who attended to him...
son of King
DhritarashtraIn the Mahābhārata Dhritarashtra was the son born to Vichitravirya's first wife Ambika. He was fathered by Vyasa. This blind king of Hastinapura was father to a hundred children by his wife Gandhari . These children came to be known as the Kauravas...
, was installed as the king of Indraprasta. Vajra, Krishna's grandson is named ruler of the Yadavas and he and the tribe are instated in Indraprastha after the destruction of
DwarkaDwarka , also spelled Dvarka, Dwaraka, and Dvaraka, is a city and a municipality located in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat state in India. Dwarka , also known as Dwarawati in Sanskrit literature is rated as one of the seven most ancient cities in the country...
. Parikshit's son king
JanamejayaEmperor Janamejaya was the son of Maharaja Parikshit and great-grandson of Arjuna the valiant warrior hero of the Mahābhārata epic. He took up the Kuru throne following the death of his father...
was mentioned as ruling the kingdom from
HastinapuraHastinapur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-History:Hastinapura was the capital of the kingdom of the Kauravas, belonging to the Kuru dynasty of kings....
.
HinduA Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, a set of religious, philosophical and cultural systems that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The vast body of Hindu scriptures, divided into Śruti and Smriti , lay the foundation of Hindu beliefs which primarily include dhárma, kárma, ahimsa and saṃsāra...
monarch
Raja DhiluDhillon , is a large Jat clan found mainly in the Punjab region of Pakistan and India, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and also in Punjabi migrant communities across the globe in countries of Australia, Singapore, United Kingdom, Canada and United States of...
is said to have founded the ancient city of
DelhiDelhi, known locally as Dilli , and also by the official name National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest metropolis by population in India...
close to Indraprastha.