Tribes in Ancient India c6.24

c6.24

It would be wearisome to recount in detail all the references from the *Mahābhārata* to the actions of the Gandhāras in the long-drawn-out battle of Kurukṣetra. We may note, however, that the Gandhāras, led by their King Śakuni, made up a powerful division of the Kuru army. When at the commencement of the battle Duryodhana came out in procession at the head of his vast army, Śakuni's contingent of hill troops (*pārvatīya*) surrounded him on all sides.¹ This would seem to indicate that the warriors from the hills of Gandhāra were the most trusty of Duryodhana's soldiers, for they were chosen to form his bodyguard. After various adventures (*Bhīṣmaparvan*, Chap. 46, p. 76; Chap. 51, p. 14; Chap. 58, pp. 7-10), the Gandhāras on the 5th day of the battle, together with the Kāmbojas, Madras and other peoples of the N.W. frontier made an onset against Arjuna, under the lead of Śakuni (*Bhīṣmaparvan*, Chap. 71, pp. 13-17). The Gandhāras and their princes further distinguished themselves throughout the battle (see *Bhīṣmaparvan*, Chap. 90; *Droṇaparvan*, Chap. 20; Chap. 29, pp. 2-27; Chap. 48, p. 7; Chap. 85, pp. 16-17; *Śalyaparvan*, Chap. 8, p. 26). Evidently great reliance was placed on their prowess, and perhaps especially on their fast horses; for it appears that, like their neighbours, the Kāmbojas, the Gandhāras reared a large number of horses in their country, and their troops fought for the most part on horseback. References which do not give them credit are, e.g. *Karṇaparvan*, Chap. 44, p. 46 and Chap. 45, p. 8, where Karṇa says that the Gandhāras along with the other races on the N.W. frontier are men of disgusting practices and customs; and *ibid.*, Chap. 95, p. 6, where it is said that Śakuni cravenly fled from the field, surrounded by thousands of the Gandhāras (Cf. also *Droṇaparvan*, Chap. 29, pp. 2-27).