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170 POLITICAL HISTORY OF ANCIENT INDIA and probably the third, fourth, fifth and ninth also, belonged to the post-Parikshit period. Durmukha Pāñchāla and Atyarāti Jānantapi were informed of the efficacy of the rite. The first made good use of the advice. But the latter who neglected his priest, and wanted to conquer the Uttara-Kurus, whom "no mortal man could vanquish," perished at the hands of a king of the Sibis.
Closely connected with the Aindra mahābhisheka was another important ceremonial called the Aśvamedha or horse-sacrifice. All the kings who were, according to the Aitareya Brāhmana, actually consecrated with Indra's great unction are represented as "going round the earth completely, conquering on every side, and offering the horse in sacrifice” (samantaṁ sarvatah prithivim jayan parīyāyāśvena cha medhyeneje). To the list of kings and princes who performed the famous rite the satapatha Brāhmana? adds the names of the Pārikshitas (or Parikshitiyas) Bhimasena, Ugrasena and Srutasena ; the Kosalan king (Kausalyarāja) Para ātņāra Hairanyanābhá ; the Aikshvāka king Purukutsa Daurgala ; the Pāñchāla kings Kraivya, the superman of the Krivis (Krivīņām atipurusha) and Sona Sātrāsāha ; the Matsya king Dhyasan Dvaitavana, and the Śvikna king Rishaba Yājñātura. The Apastamba Śrauta Sūtra says that a paramount king (Sārvabhauma Rājā) may perform the
1 Satānika defeated Dhritarāshtra of Kāsi who, according to the Mahagovinda Suttanta, was a contemporary of Sattabhu of Kalinga and of Brahmadatta of Assaka. As the Deccan kingdoms are not referred to in pre-Pārikshita works, it is probable that Satānika and his contemporaries flourished after Parikshit. Ambāshthya and Yudhāmśraushți were contemporaries of Parvata and Nārada who were very near in time to Nagnajit, the contemporary of Nimi, probably the penultimate king of Videha. Anga was probably the immediate predecessor of Dadhivāhana who, according to Jaina evidence, flourished in the 6th century B.C.
2 XIII. 5. 4, 1-23.
