This article is about the Sakas in the
Mahabharata
. For the historical people, see
Saka
.
Sakas
are described in
Sanskrit
sources as a
Mleccha
tribe grouped along with the
Yavanas
,
Tusharas
and
Barbaras
. There were a group of Sakas called
Apa Sakas
meaning
water dwelling
Sakas, probably living around some lake in central Asian steppes. Sakas took part in
Kurukshetra War
.
References in Mahabharata
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The region called Sakadwipa
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Mahabharata
mentions about a whole region inhabited by Sakas called Sakadwipa to the north-west of ancient India. There in that region are, many delightful provinces where
Siva
is worshipped, and thither repair the
Siddhas
, the
Charanas
, and the
Devas
. The people there are virtuous, and all the four orders are devoted to their respective occupations. No instance of theft can be seen there. Freed from decrepitude and death and gifted with long life, the people there grow like rivers during the season of rains. The rivers there are full of
sacred water
, and Ganga herself, distributed as she hath been into various currents, is there as Sukumari, and Kumari, and Seta, and Keveraka, and Mahanadi and the river Manijala, and Chakshus, and the river Vardhanika, these and many other rivers by thousands and hundreds, all full of sacred water, are there. It is impossible to recount the names and lengths of rivers. As heard by all men there, in that region of Saka, are four sacred provinces. They are the Mrigas, the Masakas, the Manasas, and the Mandagas.
The Mrigas for the most part are Brahmanas devoted to the occupations of their order. Amongst the Masakas are virtuous Kshatriyas. The Manasas live by following the duties of the Vaishya order. Having every wish of theirs gratified, they are also brave and firmly devoted to virtue and profit. The Mandagas are all brave Shudras of virtuous behaviour.
In these provinces, there is no king, no punishment, no person that deserves to be punished. Conversant with the dictates of duty they are all engaged in the practice of their respective duties and protect one another. This much is capable of being said of the region called Saka.
The region called Sakadwipa is mentioned again at (12:14) as a region to the east of the great Karnali mountains.
The tale of Kamadhenu's army
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When the sage
Vasistha
was attacked by king Viswamitra's army, Vasistha's cow, Kamadehnu, brought forth from her tail, an army of
Palhavas
, and from her udders, an army of
Dravidas
and Sakas; and from her womb, an army of
Yavanas
, and from her dung, an army of
Savaras
; and from her urine, an army of
Kanchis
; and from her sides, an army of Savaras. And from the froth of her mouth came out hosts of
Paundras
and
Kiratas
,
Yavanas
and
Sinhalas
, and the barbarous tribes of
Khasas
and Chivukas and Pulindas and
Chinas
and
Hunas
with
Keralas
, and numerous other
Mlechchhas
.
In the ancient Indian literature, cow is a symbol of earth or land. Thus the myth mentioned above simply means that, these tribes gathered for the protection of sage Vasistha's land against the army of king Viswamitra. This myth indicates that the ancient people were familiar with these
Mlechcha
tribes who were highly skilled in weapons, warfare and material sciences but never followed the Vedic rites properly.
The confusion of ancient Vedic people in dealing with these tribes is evident in the following passage from Mahabharata. At (12:35) is mentioned:- What duties should be performed by the
Yavanas
, the
Kiratas
, the
Gandharvas
, the
Chinas
, the Savaras, the Barbaras, the Sakas, the
Tusharas
, the Kankas, the Pathavas, the
Andhras
, the
Madrakas
, the
Paundras
, the Pulindas, the Ramathas, the Kamvojas, the several castes that have sprung up from
Brahmanas
and
Kshatriyas
, the
Vaishyas
, and the
Shudras
, that reside in the dominions of (Arya) kings?.
They were later given the status of
Shudras
. It is in consequence of the absence of Brahmanas from among them that the Sakas, the
Yavanas
, the
Kamvojas
and other Kshatriya tribes have become fallen and degraded into the status of Shudras. The
Dravidas
, the
Kalingas
, the Pulandas, the Usinaras, the
Kolisarpas
, the
Mahishakas
and other Kshatriyas, have, in consequence of the absence of Brahmanas from among their midst, become degraded into Shudras (13:33).
Encounters with the Sakas
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Nakula
the son of
Pandu
reduced to subjection the fierce
Mlechchas
residing on the sea coast, as also the wild tribes of the
Palhavas
, the
Kiratas
, the
Yavanas
, and the Sakas (2:31).
They were also vanquished by Krishna
:- The Sakas, and the
Yavanas
with followers, were all vanquished by
Krishna
. (7:11).
Bhima
subjugated strategically the Sakas and the barbarians living in that part of the country. And the son of
Pandu
, sending forth expeditions from
Videha
, conquered the seven kings of the
Kiratas
living about the Indra mountain. (2:29). These Sakas seems to be established in the north-east regions of
Gangatic plain
. These Sakas close to
Videha
was mentioned at (6:9) in the list of kingdoms of Bharata Varsha (Ancient India). Another colony of Sakas were mentioned close to the
Nishadha Kingdom
in central India.
Tribute to Yudhishthira
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Sakas were mentioned with other tribes, bringing tribute to
Yudhishthira
(2:50,51). Numberless
Chinas
and Sakas and Uddras and many barbarous tribes living in the woods, and many Vrishnis and
Harahunas
, and dusky tribes of the Himavat, and many
Nipas
and people residing in regions on the sea-coast, waited at the gate.
In Kurukshetra War
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Words of
Satyaki
a commander in the side of
Pandavas
:- I shall have to encounter the Sakas endued with prowess equal to that of Sakra (
Indra
) himself, who are fierce as tire, and difficult to put out like a blazing conflagration (7:109).
In
Kurukshetra War
, the Sakas sided with the
Kauravas
under the
Kamboja
king Sudakshina.
Saka king was reckoned by
Drupada
in his list of kings to be summoned for the cause of
Pandavas
in
Kurukshetra War
(5:4). Sudakshina, the king of the Kambhojas, accompanied by the Yavanas and Sakas, came to the
Kuru
chief with an
Akshauhini
of troops (5:19). The Sakas, the
Kiratas
, and
Yavanas
, the
Sivis
and the Vasatis with their
Maharathas
at the heads of their respective divisions joined the
Kaurava
army (5:198). The Sakas, the
Kiratas
, and
Yavanas
, and the
Pahlavas
, took up his position at the northern point of the army (6:20).
Of terrible deeds and exceedingly fierce, the
Tusharas
, the
Yavanas
, the
Khasas
, the Darvabhisaras, the
Daradas
, the Sakas, the Kamathas, the Ramathas, the Tanganas the
Andhrakas
, the Pulindas, the
Kiratas
of fierce prowess, the
Mlecchas
, the
Parvatas
, and the races hailing from the sea-side, all endued with great wrath and great might, delighting in battle and armed with maces, these all united with the
Kurus
(8:73).
Yavanas
were armed with bow and arrows and skilled in smiting. They were followed by Sakas and
Daradas
and Barbaras and Tamraliptakas, and other countless
Mlecchas
(7:116). Three thousand bowmen headed by
Duryodhana
, with a number of Sakas and
Kamvojas
and
Valhikas
and
Yavanas
and
Paradas
, and
Kalingas
and Tanganas and Amvashtas and
Pisachas
and Barbaras and
Parvatas
, inflamed with rage and armed with stone, all rushed against
Satyaki
(7:118).
Sakas were mentioned along with other tribes like the
Sudras
, the
Abhiras
, the Daserakas, the
Yavanas
, the
Kamvojas
, the Hangsapadas, the
Paradas
, the
Vahlikas
, the Samsthanas, the
Surasenas
, the Venikas, the Kukkuras, the Rechakas, the
Trigartas
, the
Madrakas
, the
Tusharas
and the Chulikas as battling on the side of
Kauravas
at various passages. (6:51,75,88, 7:20,90).
A number of Saka and
Tukhara
and
Yavana
horsemen, accompanied by some of the foremost combatants among the
Kambojas
, quickly rushed against
Arjuna
(8:88). All the
Samsaptakas
, the
Kambojas
together with the Sakas, the
Mlecchas
, the
Parvatas
, and the
Yavanas
, have also been slain by
Arjuna
(9:1)
Sakas after Kurukshetra War
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A passage which is rendered as a futuristic prediction in
Mahabharata
mentions thus:- The Sakas, the Pulindas, the
Yavanas
, the
Kamvojas
, the
Valhikas
and the
Abhiras
, will then become possessed of bravery and the sovereignty of the whole earth (3:187).
See also
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References
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External links
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