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LINEAGE OF KHĀRAVELA
263
If, however, the fact that Khāravela belonged to the family of Vasu,' is taken into account, we find that Vasu was 5th in descent from Kuru, who in turn was the 72 Aila." But Vasu was not a Chaidya himself. On the contrary, he was a conqueror of the Chedi country. Can't it be possible then, that having carved out a principality in the Chedi country, the country.name was ultimately given to the ruling family also ? And, that is the reason why Khāravela ascribes himself a Chedi descent. This view also finds some corroboration from the evidence of the Jaina Harivamsa Purāņa; where Vasu is included in the Aileya list and has been called a son of the founder of the Chedi-rāshțra in the Vindhyas. It might have been, hence, that some prince of the house of Vasu might have either migrated to Kalinga and carved out a principality for himself or the house of Vasu itself might have extended its sway over the Kaling: country itself some time before Khāravela ascended the throne of Kalinga.
1. Line 17 of the Bathigumpha Ingcription. 2. AIHT, p. 272. 3. JASB, 1910, pp. 22f.
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