Tribes in Ancient India c8.19

c8.19

The *Mahābhārata* gives a different story of the division of the Pañcāla country. There, in the *Ādiparvan*, we read that the Brahmin Droṇa and Prince Drupada had been friends in their boyhood. But their friendship changed to enmity in their manhood when Drupada, on being raised to the throne, treated the poor Brahmin’s son with contempt. Droṇa, bent upon taking revenge, taught the science of war to the youths of the rival clan of the Kurus and, when their education was completed, he one day called all his pupils together and bade them seize Drupada, King of Pañcāla, in battle, and bring him captive. That, said Droṇa, would be the most acceptable teacher’s fee (*dakṣiṇā*) for him. A great battle ensued, in which the Pañcālas were defeated and their capital attacked. Drupada was seized and offered to Droṇa by his disciples. Droṇa asked Drupada whether he would desire to revive old friendship, and told him that he would grant him half his kingdom as a boon. Drupada accepted the offer. Droṇa then took the northern half of the kingdom which came to be known as Uttara-Pañcāla: while Drupada ruled over the other half, known as Southern Pañcāla. That is to say, the country extending from the river Bhāgīrathī to the river Carmanvatī in the south, with its capital at Kāmpilya, fell to Drupada’s share, and the northern half with its capital at Ahicchatra was taken over by Droṇa.¹