Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.481

c8.481

Suhma.—The Suhma country was a portion of the more comprehensive region which was later known as Rāḍha. It was on the Ganges (Dhoyi’s Pavanadūta, V. 27). Subhabhūmi seems to be identical with the country of Suhmas. According to the Epic and Pauranic accounts the Suhma country is distinguished from Vaṅga and Puṇḍra. The account of Bhīma’s eastern conquests as given in the Mahābhārata makes the country of the Suhmas distinct from Vaṅga and Tāmralipta. Nīlakaṇṭha’s Commentary on the Mahābhārata informs us that the Suhmas and Rāḍhas were one and the same people. The Jaina Āyārāṅga-Sutta tells us that the Suhma country formed a part of the Rāḍha country. From the Mahābhārata (Sabhāp., Ch. 30, 16) we learn that the Pāṇḍavas led their victorious army to Suhma. Suhma was conquered by Pāṇḍu (Mbh., Ādiparva 113) and by Karṇa respectively (Mbh., Karṇaparva, 8, 19). Buddha delivered the Janapada-kalyāṇi Sutta while he was at Suhma (Jāt., I. 393). The inhabitants of Suhma saved themselves by submitting to Raghu (Raghuvamśa, 49, 35). Raghu crossed the river Kāpisā and proceeded towards Kaliṅga. The king of Utkala showed him the way (Ibid., 49, 38). In the account of Mitragupta’s journey there is a reference to the Suhma country which was then ruled by king Tuṅgadhanvā (Daśakumāracarita 6th Ucchvāsa, p. 102). This king went out to starve himself to death in the pure water of the Ganges (Daśakumāracarita, p. 119). The Kāvyamīmāṃsā (Ch. 17) by Rājaśekhara refers to many countries including Suhma. According to the Harṣacarita (6th Ucchvāsa) Devasena, king of the Suhmas, was killed by Devaki.