India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c7.s4.40

c7.s4.40

*Madrakāra*. The Madrakāras, as pointed out by Prof. Przyluski, signifies the warrior-troops of the Madras (*Les Salva, Journal Asiatique*, 1929, pp. 311-354; from old Persian *kāra* meaning 'army'). Their connection with the Sālvas was the outcome of an important event in the history of the two peoples, viz. the marriage of the Madra princess Sāvitrī with the Sālva prince Satyavān (Vanaparva, 279.15). It appears that consequent to this marriage three new small kingdoms came into existence for which distinct names have been preserved, e.g. 1. Sāvitrīputrakāḥ, 2. Madrakāraḥ and 3. Śālvasenyaḥ. The first represented the hundred sons of Sāvitrī and Satyavān mentioned both in the *Mahābhārata* (*Vanaparva*, 283. 12; Karṇaparva, 4.47) and in the *Gaṇa-pāṭha* (V.3.166, Dāmanyādi *gaṇa*). Putra denoted a clan as in the names Kehar-potre, Chanan-potre, etc. amongst the Arora Khattris of the Punjab, or in such old designations as the Śākyaputras. The Madrakāras and the Śālvasenyāḥ (Skt. *senā* corresponding to Iranian *kāra*; Bhīshmaparva 10.59), were smaller kingdoms of such warrior chiefs as were lent both by the Madras and the Sālvas in order to rehabilitate Sāvitrī and Satyavān who were bereft of their kingdom and married in exile.