Samsaptakas
Encyclopedia
Samsaptaka means 'sworn warrior'. They were the bravest of the Trigartas, who, led by their King Susarman, had sworn an oath to either kill Arjuna
or die in that attempt. After swearing their oaths, they performed their own funeral rites, for they well knew that their chances of victory were slim, and that their death was almost a certainty.
Susarman was the King of the Trigartas during the Mahabharata war, with their capital at the city of Prasthala
(probably situated in the Kangra valley in modern India
). From the time the Trigartas were conquered by Arjuna when he set out on his campaign of conquest (to enable Yudhishtra to perform the Rajasuya
sacrifice), the Trigartas were the sworn enemies of the Pandavas.
The Trigartas were also closely allied with the Saindhavas, particularly their king Jayadratha
. They assisted him when he tried to abduct Draupadi from the Kamyaka forest. She had been in exile then along with the Pandavas, but they had gone out to hunt.
[Note: During this incident, Susarman is not mentioned as the King of the Trigartas, two other names are mentioned: Kshemankara and Suratha. Susarman is mentioned as their King only after they assist Duryodhana in the raid on the Matsya
king, Virata's cattle.]
However, the Pandavas soon caught up with the abducting party and after a short battle, in which both the Trigartas and Jayadratha
were worsted, they rescued Draupadi. Jayadratha was humiliated by Arjuna, who caused his head to be shaved. This laid the seed for a never ending enmity between the two.
The Trigartas were also the bitter enemies of Virata
, the king of Matsya, and had been repeatedly vanquished by his commander and brother-in-law Keechaka. When the news of Keechaka's death reached them, they induced Duryodhana to attack the Matsya Kingdom, to expose the Pandavas, for it was suspected that Keechaka had been slain by Bheema
. This raid was unfruitful, as the Pandavas, excepting Arjuna, took part in the defence and defeated the Trigartas.
When, during the Kurukshetra
war, Drona
asked for volunteers to draw Arjuna to a corner of the battlefield, to enable him to capture Yudhishthira, the Trigartas immediately volunteered. They swore the Samsaptaka oath, and performed their own funeral rites, for it was almost certain that coming up against Arjuna, that foremost of warriors, their entire clan would be destroyed, and none would be left to offer their funeral cakes. They formed the force that drew away Arjuna to a distant corner of the battlefield, allowing Drona to set up the lotus battle array (a strategic formation) to capture King Yudhishthira. They successfully drew away Arjuna by challenging him to battle. Arjuna killed many of them that day.
The plan of Drona did not succeed as expected, for his lotus array that was to have captured Yudhishthira was pierced by Abhimanyu
. However, Yudhishtra's capture was avoided at a high price. Prevented by Jayadratha from following Abhimanyu into the battle array, the Pandavas could not aid him. After fighting valiantly, the brave Abhimanyu
was slain in contravention to the rules of combat, when he was simultaneously attacked by eight of the most powerful Kuru warriors, and was killed.
Arjuna swore to avenge his son's death by slaying Jayadratha (he believed that Jayadratha was the primary culprit) on the following day before sunset or give up his life in order to keep his oath. The Sindhu king wanted to flee to his native country, but Susarman promised him his protection, with a new army of hundred brave warriors led by himself to thwart Arjuna. Despite their valiant efforts, Arjuna succeeded in killing Jayadratha, with the help of Krishna's powers of illusion. Most of the Trigartas were slain that day, but Susarman survived, and was finally killed on the last day of the war by Arjuna.
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
or die in that attempt. After swearing their oaths, they performed their own funeral rites, for they well knew that their chances of victory were slim, and that their death was almost a certainty.
Susarman was the King of the Trigartas during the Mahabharata war, with their capital at the city of Prasthala
Prasthala
Prasthala was the capital of king Susharman of Trigarta Kingdom. As per epic Mahabharata, this city was under the constant attack of Matsya kings like the king Virata. Susharman tried to avenge the Matsyas with the help of Duryodhana of Hastinapura, but the attempt was foiled by the Pandavas...
(probably situated in the Kangra valley in modern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
). From the time the Trigartas were conquered by Arjuna when he set out on his campaign of conquest (to enable Yudhishtra to perform the Rajasuya
Rajasuya
Rajasuya was a sacrifice, described in detail in the Mahabharata, performed by the ancient kings of India who considered themselves powerful enough to be an emperor...
sacrifice), the Trigartas were the sworn enemies of the Pandavas.
The Trigartas were also closely allied with the Saindhavas, particularly their king Jayadratha
Jayadratha
In the epic Mahābhārata, Jayadratha was the king of Sindhu Kingdom . He was married to Dushala, the only sister of the 100 Kaurava brothers. He was the son of the sinful king Vridhakshtra.- Abduction of Draupadi:...
. They assisted him when he tried to abduct Draupadi from the Kamyaka forest. She had been in exile then along with the Pandavas, but they had gone out to hunt.
[Note: During this incident, Susarman is not mentioned as the King of the Trigartas, two other names are mentioned: Kshemankara and Suratha. Susarman is mentioned as their King only after they assist Duryodhana in the raid on the Matsya
Matsya
Matsya was the first Avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism. The great flood finds mention in Hindu mythology texts like the Satapatha Brahmana, where in the Matsya Avatar takes place to save the pious and the first man, Manu and advices him to build a giant boat.-The Legend:According to the Matsya...
king, Virata's cattle.]
However, the Pandavas soon caught up with the abducting party and after a short battle, in which both the Trigartas and Jayadratha
Jayadratha
In the epic Mahābhārata, Jayadratha was the king of Sindhu Kingdom . He was married to Dushala, the only sister of the 100 Kaurava brothers. He was the son of the sinful king Vridhakshtra.- Abduction of Draupadi:...
were worsted, they rescued Draupadi. Jayadratha was humiliated by Arjuna, who caused his head to be shaved. This laid the seed for a never ending enmity between the two.
The Trigartas were also the bitter enemies of Virata
Virata
Virata , in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, was a king in whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their exile. Virata was married to Queen Sudeshna and was the father of Prince Uttara and Princess Uttarā, who married Abhimanyu son of Arjuna. Their son Parikshit succeeded...
, the king of Matsya, and had been repeatedly vanquished by his commander and brother-in-law Keechaka. When the news of Keechaka's death reached them, they induced Duryodhana to attack the Matsya Kingdom, to expose the Pandavas, for it was suspected that Keechaka had been slain by Bheema
Bheema
-Box office:In its opening week, the film grossed a record of 19 crores in Tamil nadu and fetched a record 5 crores in Thiruvarur alone, thus becoming the second biggest opening after Sivaji at that time. The film debuted at number one position at the Chennai box-office and grossed 58 lakhs in the...
. This raid was unfruitful, as the Pandavas, excepting Arjuna, took part in the defence and defeated the Trigartas.
When, during the Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra is a land of historical and religious importance. Historically the land belonged to Punjab now a district in Haryana state of India. It is a holy place and is also known as Dharmakshetra . According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and...
war, Drona
Drona
In the epic Mahābhārata, Drona or Dronacharya was the royal guru to Kauravas and Pandavas. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the Devastras. Arjuna was his favorite student. Dronas love for Arjuna was second only to his love for his son Ashwatthama...
asked for volunteers to draw Arjuna to a corner of the battlefield, to enable him to capture Yudhishthira, the Trigartas immediately volunteered. They swore the Samsaptaka oath, and performed their own funeral rites, for it was almost certain that coming up against Arjuna, that foremost of warriors, their entire clan would be destroyed, and none would be left to offer their funeral cakes. They formed the force that drew away Arjuna to a distant corner of the battlefield, allowing Drona to set up the lotus battle array (a strategic formation) to capture King Yudhishthira. They successfully drew away Arjuna by challenging him to battle. Arjuna killed many of them that day.
The plan of Drona did not succeed as expected, for his lotus array that was to have captured Yudhishthira was pierced by Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu is a tragic hero in the Hindu epic, the Mahābhārata. He is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, who is the half-sister of Lord Krishna...
. However, Yudhishtra's capture was avoided at a high price. Prevented by Jayadratha from following Abhimanyu into the battle array, the Pandavas could not aid him. After fighting valiantly, the brave Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu is a tragic hero in the Hindu epic, the Mahābhārata. He is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, who is the half-sister of Lord Krishna...
was slain in contravention to the rules of combat, when he was simultaneously attacked by eight of the most powerful Kuru warriors, and was killed.
Arjuna swore to avenge his son's death by slaying Jayadratha (he believed that Jayadratha was the primary culprit) on the following day before sunset or give up his life in order to keep his oath. The Sindhu king wanted to flee to his native country, but Susarman promised him his protection, with a new army of hundred brave warriors led by himself to thwart Arjuna. Despite their valiant efforts, Arjuna succeeded in killing Jayadratha, with the help of Krishna's powers of illusion. Most of the Trigartas were slain that day, but Susarman survived, and was finally killed on the last day of the war by Arjuna.