Tribes in Ancient India c13.10

c13.10

In the great Kurukṣetra war the Śālvas along with the Matsyas, Kekayas, Ambaṣṭhas, Trigarttas, and others, lent their support to the army of Duryodhana against the Pāṇḍavas, and, along with the Ambaṣṭhas and Trigarttas, formed a unit of the army led by Bhīṣma.⁷ In the Udyogaparvan (54, 18) they are associated with the Pañcālas, Kekayas, and Śūrasenas; and (56, 18) with the Mālavas. In the Bhīṣmaparvan,⁸ the Śālvas, Matsyas, Ambaṣṭhas, Trigarttas, Kekayas, Sauviras, and six other tribal states are said to have arrayed themselves by the side of Bhīṣma. The mighty Śālva king is said to have been laid low on the battle-field by Bhīmasena (*Karṇaparvan*, Chap. 5, 42).¹ The Śālvas are several times referred to in the *Mahābhārata*² as Dānavas and Daityas, i.e. demons,—probably because of their fabled enmity to Viṣṇu who is termed ‘Śalvāri’, foe of Śālva.