Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c15.s4.t1.3

c15.s4.t1.3

Keśin, as the name of a people, occurs in the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa*, where their king is mentioned as learning from Khaṇḍika the atonement for a bad omen at the time of performing a sacrifice.² A Keśin Dārbhya or Dālbhya is a somewhat enigmatic figure.³ According to the *Jaiminīya Brāhmaṇa* this inexplicable person was the son of king Uccaiḥśrava's sister.⁴ His people, according to the *Kāṭhaka Saṁhitā*, were the Pāñcālas, of whom the Keśins were one of the three branches.⁵ Dālbhya was a contemporary of a fellow sage Keśin Śātyakāmi by name.⁶