Shudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Lower Order down to circa A.D. 600 c8.130

c8.130

The most important evidence for internal conflict within the Āryan fold at an early date is the record of the *Dāśarājña* battle, which is the only important historical event in the *Ṛg Veda*, Geldner thinks that *RV*, VII. 33, which speaks of this battle, belongs to an early period.¹ The Battle of Ten Kings was primarily a conflict between two main branches of the Ṛg Vedic Āryans, namely the Pūrus and the Bhāratas, in which the non-Āryans may have joined as auxiliaries.² While the Bhāratas were led by the famous Ṛg Vedic hero Sudās and assisted by their priest Vasiṣṭha, their enemies comprised ten kings belonging to the five well-known tribes — Anus, Druhyus, Yadus, Turvaśas and Pūrus, along with five less known tribes — Alina, Paktha, Bhalānas, Śiva and Viṣāṇin. The opposing confederacy was organised by the priest Viśvāmitra and led by the Pūrus.³ It appears that the battle was, in fact, a memorable attempt of the lesser Āryan tribes to maintain their separate identities, but they were completely routed by the Bhāratas under Sudās on the Paruṣṇi. There is no indication of the treatment of these conquered Āryans, but essentially it might have been the same as in the case of the non-Āryans.