The History and Culture of the Indian People v1.c19.s2.3

v1.c19.s2.3

The exact relation of the Tṛitsus and Bharatas cannot be determined and there is a sharp difference of opinion among scholars on this subject. The Tṛitsus occupied the country to the east of the Parushṇī. Both being enemies of the Pūrus, Ludwig's identification of the Bharatas and Tṛitsus appears to be correct. Oldenberg, however, takes the Tṛitsus to be the priests of the Bharatas, thus identifying them with the Vasishṭhas, whereas according to Geldner, the Tṛitsus were the royal family of the Bharatas, which appears to be the most probable view. Zimmer's theory representing the Tṛitsus and Bharatas as enemies is clearly untenable. The Tṛitsus and their kinsfolk the Bharatas were at war with the various tribes on both sides of the Parushṇī and Yamunā, as already stated. In post-Rigvedic times, however, they coalesced with the Pūrus, their erstwhile enemies, to form the Kuru people of later times. The *Ṛigveda* refers to the Sṛiñjayas as being the allies of the Tṛitsus. The Tṛitsus apparently had hereditary kings to rule over them. One of them, Divodāsa, surnamed Atithigva, was a great conqueror, who successfully fought against the Pūrus, Yadus, and Turvaśas on the one hand, and against Śambara, the Dāsa king, the Paṇis, etc., on the other. Sudās, the son of Pijavana, was a descendant of Divodāsa; his exploits in the *Dāśarājña* and against Bheda have been referred to. He was not only a famous warrior, but also a great scholar and composer of hymns.