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Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c13.s3: The Śāryātas

Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c13.s3

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The Śāryātas

c13.s3.1

These were the descendants of Śaryāti, son of Manu, and the list is given briefly by twelve Puranas.⁸ There is a fair amount of agreement. The dynasty does not play any conspicuous part in tradition, and the genealogy is manifestly curtailed and incomplete. It may be stated thus—Śaryāti, his son Ānarta and daughter Sukanyā (who married the great Bhārgava rishi Cyavana), then Rocamāna, Reva and Raivata Kakudmin. It reigned at Kuśasthalī, the ancient name of Dvārakā (Dvāravatī)¹ in Gujarat, which was named Ānarta after king Ānarta. It did not last long and was destroyed by Puṇyajana Rākṣasas. The remnant of the Śaryātas appear to have afterwards become a tribe among the Haihayas (see next chapter).

c13.s3.2

⁸ Br 7, 42, 6, 23–9; 88, 1–4. Bḍ iii, 61, 18–24; 63, 1–4. Br 7, 27–41. Hv 10, 642 to 11, 657. Mat 12, 21–4. Lg i, 66, 47–9. Viṣ iv, 1, 20–34; 2, 1–2. Pad v, 8, 126–9. Ag 272, 11–16. Gar i, 138, 14. Bhāg ix, 3, 1–2, 27–36. Śiv vii, 60, 20–30. Pad vi, 274, 10 is wrong.

c13.s3.3

¹ Mat 69, 9. Pad v, 23, 10. Viṣ iv, 1, 34. Cf. also MBh ii, 13, 613-4 : iii, 20, 777 ; 88, 8348-9 : xii, 341, 12955 : xiv, 1535-6. Hv 36, 1967 ; 113, 6265. ² See continuation of passages in second note above. The fable sometimes introduces a disquisition on music. ³ Vā 88, 5-7. Bḍ iii, 63, 5-7. Br 7, 24. Hv 10, 641. Mat 12, 20-1. Pad v, 8, 125-6. Lg i, 66, 50-1. Śiv vii, 60, 19-20. Viṣ iv, 2, 2. Ag 272, 10-11. Gar i, 138, 15-16. Bhāg ix, 4, 1, 13 and 6, 1-3, with fables intervening. Ag 272, 17 should probably read Nābhāga-diṣṭa-putrau, referring to Nābhānediṣṭha. ⁴ This Nabhāga and his son Ambarīṣa must be distinguished from the two similar kings of Ayodhyā, see ante and Table of genealogies, chap. XII.

c13.s3.4

Raivata is made the subject of myth in that it is said he visited the Gandharva world and Brahmā’s court, stayed there listening to music for long ages, returned to find Kuśasthalī in possession of the Yādavas and then gave his daughter to Balarāma.² It seems probable that two Raivatas, who were ages apart, have been confused.

c13.s3.5

*The Nābhāgas.*

c13.s3.6

These were the descendants of Manu’s son Nabhāga, and their genealogy is noticed in twelve Puranas.³ All mention Nabhāga or Nābhāga and his son Ambarīṣa,⁴ and the Brahmāṇḍa, Vāyu, Viṣṇu, Garuḍa and Bhāgavata add the successors, Virūpa, Pṛṣadaśva and Rathitara. Where this dynasty reigned is wholly uncertain. From Rathitara were descended the Rathitaras who were ‘kṣatriyan brahmans’ as will be noticed in chapter XXIII.

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