________________
PAÑCHĀLA EXPANSION
135 Great Epic, Northern Pañchāla had its capital at Ahichchhatra or Chhatravati, the modern Rāmnagar near Aonlā in the Bareilly District, while Southern Pañchāla had its capital at Kāmpilya, and stretched from the Ganges to the Chambal. A great struggle raged in ancient times between the Kurus and the Pañchālas for the possession of Northern (Uttara) Pañchāla. Sometimes Uttara Pañchāla was included in Kururattha (-rāshtra)? and had its capital at Hāstinapura, at other times it formed a part of Kampilla-rattha (Kāmpilya-rāshtra). Sometimes kings of Kāmpilya-rāshtra held court at Uttara Pañchāla-nagara, at other times kings of Uttara Pañchālarāshțra held court at Kāmpilya."
The history of Pañchāla from the death of Pravābaņa Jaivala or Jaivali to the time of Bimbisāra of Magadha is obscure. The only king who may perhaps be referred to this period is Durmukha (Dummukha), the contemporary of Nimi, who is probably to be identified with the penultimate sovereign of Mithilā.? In the Kumbhakāra Jataka it is stated that Durmukha's kingdom was styled Uttara Pañchala-rattha (-rāshtrā) ; his capital was not Ahichchhatra but Kampilla ( Kāmpilya )-nagara. He is represented as a contemporary of Karaņdu, king of Kalinga, Naggaji (Nagnajit), king of Gandhāra, and Nimi, king of Videha. The Aitareya Brahmana' credits him with extensive conquests and names Brihaduktha as his priest :
1 Mbh., I. 138. 73-74. 2 Somanassa Jätaka, No. 505 ; Mahābhārata, I. 138. 3 Divyāvadāna, p. 435.
4 Brahmadatta Jātaka, No. 323 : Jayaddisa Jātaka, No. 513 and Gandatindu Jataka, No. 520.
5 Kumbhakāra Jataka, No. 408. 6 Jataka, No. 408. 7 Jataka, No. 5+1. 8 VIII. 23.
-
