Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Daradas

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Daradas were a people who lived north and north-west to the Kashmir valley. This kingdom is identified to be the Gilgit region in Kashmir along the river Sindhu or Indus. They are often spoken along with the Kambojas. The Pandava hero Arjuna had visited this country of Daradas during his northern military campaign to collect tribute for Yudhishthira's Rajasuya sacrifice.

Contents

Location of Daradas

  • The Vayu Purana, Brahmanda Purana and Vamana Purana mention the Daradas with the Kambojas, Chinas, Tusharas and the Bahlikas etc. The Bhuvankosha of the Puranas locates the Daradas, Kambojas, Barbaras, Bahlikas, Lampakas etc. in the Uttarapatha division of ancient India. e.g.:
    • ete desha udichyastu Kambojah Daradashchaiva Barbarashcha Angalaukikah || Chinashchaiva Tusharashcha Pahlavadhayata narah |
  • Puranas also refer to river Sindhu as watering the lands of Daradas, Gandharas and the Aurasas (Ursas).
  • Brhatsamhita groups the Daradas with the Abhisaras and the Tanganas.
  • Mahabharata also mentions the Daradas as neighbors to the Kambojas and Bahlikas.
  • Mahabharata locates the country of Daradas in the Himavata-Pradesa.
  • Ptolemy refers to the Daradas as living below the sources of the Indus River.
  • Herodotus refers to the Daradas as Dadicae and groups them with the Gandharas and the Aparytae (Afridis?). Herodotus and Strabo also connect the Daradas with the gold producing area located in the west of Tibet. There is an evidence that the Daradas, in ancient times, had their colonies located in Baltistan and Leh also.

    • All the above references locate the Daradas in Uttarapatha as neighbors to Kambojas of Kashmir-Nuristan.

    Fight with Arjuna

    Sabha Parva of Mahabharata attests that Arjuna had led a digvijaya expedition against the Kashmiras, Ursas, Abhisaras, Sinhapuras, Suhmas, Daradas, Kambojas, Bahlikas, Lohas, Rishikas and Parama Kambojas etc.

    Fight with Krishna

    Drona Parva of Mahabharata attests that Krishna had vanquished the Daradas along with Anga, Vanga, Magadha, Kasi, Kosala, Vatsa, Garga, Karusha, Pundra, Avanti, Daserka, Kashmira, Ursa, Madugalas, Kambojas, Pisachas, Malavas, Sakas, Yavanas etc.

    Daradas in Yudhishtra's Rajasuya ceremony

    The Daradas along with numerous other tribes from northwest had including the Bahlikas, Kiratas, Pahlavas, Paradas, Kambojas, Shakas, Yavanas, Trigartas, Kshudrakas, Malavas, Angas, Vangas etc. had joined Yudhishtra at his Rajasuya ceremony and brought him numerous gifts.

    Daradas in Kurukshetra war

    Daradas had also participated in the Kurukshetra war fought between the Kauravas and Pandavas. They are variously listed with Sauviras, Bahlikas, Shakas, Yavanas, Pahlavas, Paradas, Kekayas, Kambojas, Madras, Mlechcvhas, northern and westerner tribes etc.

    Horses of Daradas

    Brahmanda Purana refers to the horses from Darada country.

    Daradas in Brahatsamhita of Varahamihira

    The Daradas are mentioned with the Shakas, Yavanas, Paradas and the Kambojas in the 6th-century AD Brhatsamhita of Varahamihira. They are also mentioned with the Abhisaras in the same text as living on the borders of Kashmir.

    Daradas in Tibetan chronicles

    The Daradas are mentioned in the Tibetan chronicle Dpag-bsam-ljon-bzah (The Excellent Kalpa-Vrksa), along people like the Yavanas, Kambojas, Tukharas, Hunas, Khasas etc.

    Daradas in present times

    The ethnonym of ancient Daradas has survived in present times as Dar clan among the people of kashmir.

    References

    Daradas Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA