Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.5210

c9.5210

YAVANA.
1) General. There are many references to Yavanas and the land of Yavanas in the Purāṇas. There is a statement in Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 85, Verse 34, that the Yavana race takes its source from Turvasu, the son of Yayāti. There is another version in Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 174, Verse 36, that Yavanas were born from the womb and the sides of Nandini.
2) Other details.
(i) Arjuna’s brother Sahadeva once conquered the Yavana land. (M.B. Sabhā Parva, Chapter 31, Verse 73).
(ii) Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 32, Verse 17, mentions that on another occasion, Nakula defeated the Yavanas.
(iii) According to Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 188, Verse 35, the world will be filled with Yavanas and other Mleccha (low class) kings.
(iv) In the course of his conquests, Karṇa once subdued the Yavanas. (M.B. Vana Parva, Chapter 254, Verse 8).
(v) Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 19, Verse 21, mentions that king Sudakṣiṇa of Kāmboja approached Duryodhana with an “Akṣauhiṇī” along with the Yavanas, to take part in Bhārata Yuddha.
(vi) Mahābhārata, Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 9, Verse 65 states that at the time of Mahābhārata, Yavana land was part of India.
(vii) Originally Yavanas were Kṣatriyas. But they became Śūdras by the curse of Brāhmaṇas. (M.B. Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 18). (viii) Once there was a duel between a Yavana king and Mucukunda. (For further details, see under Mucukunda).