Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
Kauravyas (Korovvā)
The Kauravyas appear to be one of the branches of the famous Kuru clan as mentioned in the Brahmanical1 and Buddhist works and epigraphic records. The first reference to this famous clan occurs in the Rg-veda which alludes to king Kuruśravānasa (the glory of the Kurus, or as the hearer of the Kurus). But this king was also known as Trasadasyava (descendant of Trasadasyu) who was the king of Purus inhabiting the region on the Sarasvati,
The merging of these Trtsu Bharatas and their rival clan, the Purus resulted in the formation of the Kurus later on the land of the Sarasvati which came to be known as Kuruksetra, the field of the Kurus, the centre of Indo-Aryan Culture.? In the Buddhist Records the land of this clan appears as one of the sixteen great states where they ruled. In the Arthasastra of Kautilya the Kurus are mentioned as a Ksatriya clan, having the republican form of government, still holding the title 'raja' ('rājasabda-upajivinah'). They also played some active part in North Indian politics during the rule of king Dharmapala of Bengal1o who installed his protégé, Cakrayudha on the throne of Kannauja with the consent of the elders of the Kurus and Pancalas, after defeating Indrāyudha.
[Ch. VIII
These evidences show that the Kauravyas of the Bhs were an eastern branch of the famous Kuru clan..
Kṣatriyas (Khattiya)
The Ksatriyas of the BhS may be a clan of that name
1 Rg-Veda IX. 33. 4.; Aitareya Brahmana VIII. 14 (tra, Keith Rgveda, Brahmanas p. 331, Cf. Brhadaranyaka Upanisad III, 1, 1. foll. Manu-Smrti II, 17. 19; Bhagavat, Gita 1st verse; Mahabharata (Vanaparva) Ch. 129, pp. 394. 5.
2 Anguttara Nikaya Vol. 1. p. 213. Vol. IV pp. 252, 256 and 260; Digha Nikaya II, pp. 200. 201 & 203.
* Khalimpura Inscription of Dharmapala of Bengal.
4 Rg-Veda, IV, 38, 1; VII, 19, 3; etc.
Vedic Index, 1.327.
6 Vedic Index, 1.167
7 Ib. 1, 167, 8. Vide, Cambride History of India, Vol. 1, p. 117. Anguttara Nikaya, Vol. 1, p. 213. 9 Arthasastra, p. 455. 10 Khalimpura Inscription of Dharmapala of Bengal.