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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{for|historical region of Gujarat, India|Anarta}}<br />
{{More citations needed|date=August 2022}}<br />
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{{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}}<br />
'''Anarta''' is a [[Vedic period]] kingdom of [[ancient India]] described in the [[Mahabharata]], roughly forming the northern [[Gujarat]] state of India. It was founded by the [[Surya|father]] of [[Vaivasvata Manu]] and [[Yama]], named Anarta. He built a fortress at [[Dvārakā|Kusasthali]] (Dvaraka), which was later flooded by [[Varuna]]. The place remained then for some time as a forest land, before [[Krishna]] and the [[Yadavas]] went there and built Dvaraka.<ref>Vettam Mani: ''Puranic Encyclopaedia'', 9th reprint Delhi 2010, page 89</ref><br />
It was then ruled by [[Yadavas]] after they fled from [[Mathura]] of [[Surasena|Surasena kingdom]], due to the attacks of [[Jarasandha]], the king of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]]. The Yadava chiefs like [[Krishna in the Mahābhārata|Vasudeva Krishna]], [[Bala Rama]] (brother of Krishna), [[Kritavarma]] and [[Satyaki]], ruled this kingdom under their king [[Ugrasena]]. In [[Mahabharata]], Dwaraka is considered as a capital city of Anarta kingdom. But some other ancient texts like Mahabhagavata, mentions [[Dwaraka kingdom|Dwaraka]] and Anarta as two independent kingdoms. As per the [[Purana]] viz. [[Bhagavata Purana]], [[Bala Rama]]'s wife [[Revati]] was from this kingdom.<br />
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Other [[yadu|Yadava]] kingdoms in west-central India include:<br />
#[[Chedi kingdom|Chedi]] ([[Jhansi]] district in [[Uttar Pradesh]])<br />
#[[Surasena kingdom|Surasena]] ([[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]] district in [[Uttar Pradesh]] (also known as [[Vraja]])<br />
#Dasharna (south to Chedi Kingdom)<br />
#[[Karusha kingdom|Karusha]] (east to Dasharna Kingdom)<br />
#[[Kunti kingdom|Kunti]] (North to Avanti Kingdom)<br />
#[[Avanti (India)|Avanti]] ([[Ujjain]] district in [[Madhya Pradesh]]<br />
#[[Malava kingdom|Malava]] (West to Avanti Kingdom)<br />
#[[Gopa Rashtra|Goparashtra]] (southern [[Rajasthan]])<br />
#[[Heheya kingdom|Heheya]] ([[Narmada River|Narmada]] valley around the city [[Maheshwar]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]])<br />
#[[Saurashtra kingdom|Saurashtra]] (southern [[Gujarat]])<br />
#[[Dwaraka kingdom|Dwaraka]] (offshore the [[Dwarka]] city in [[Gujarat]])<br />
#[[Vidarbha kingdom|Vidarbha]] (north eastern [[Maharashtra]])<br />
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== References in Mahabharata ==<br />
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=== Draupadi's sons in Anarta country undergoes military training ===<br />
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====Mahabharata 3.182====<br />
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''When [[Pandavas]] were exiled to the woods, by the [[Kauravas]], the five sons of Pandavas, born to [[Draupadi]], were sent to [[Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)|Panchala]], the kingdom ruled by their maternal grandfather [[Drupada]]. They later went to the Anarta Kingdom, ruled by the [[Yaduvanshi Aheer|Yadavas]], so that they can stay with their step brother and dear friend, [[Abhimanyu]], and learn military science from eminent Yadava warriors.''<br />
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[[Krishna in the Mahābhārata|Vasudeva Krishna]]'s words to [[Princess Krishna]] (alias Draupadi, Panchali):- Those sons of yours, are devoted to the study of the science of arms, are well-behaved and conduct themselves on the pattern of their righteous friends. Your father and your uterine brothers proffer them a kingdom and territories; but the boys find no joy in the house of [[Drupada]], or in that of their maternal uncles. Safely proceeding to '''the land of the Anartas''', they take the greatest delight in the study of the science of arms. Your sons enter the town of the Vrishnis ([[Dvārakā|Dwaraka]]) and take an immediate liking to the people there. And as you would direct them to conduct themselves, or as the respected [[Kunti]] would do, so does [[Subhadra]] (their stepmother) direct them in a watchful way. Perhaps, she is still more careful of them. As [[Pradyumna]] is the preceptor of [[Aniruddha]], of [[Abhimanyu]], of Sunitha, and of Bhanu; so he is the preceptor and the refuge of your sons also! And a good preceptor, would unceasingly give them lessons in the wielding of maces and swords and bucklers, in missiles and in the arts of driving cars and of riding horses, being valiant. And he, [[Pradyumna]], the son of [[Rukmini]], having bestowed a very good training upon them, and having taught them the art of using various weapons in a proper way, takes satisfaction at the valorous deeds of your sons, and of [[Abhimanyu]]. O daughter of Drupada! And when your son goes out, in pursuit of (out-door) sports, each one of them is followed thither by cars and horses and vehicles and elephants.’<br />
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[[Krishna in the Mahābhārata|Vasudeva Krishna]], next told to the exiled [[Pandava]] king [[Yudhishthira]], that the fighting men of Anarta, consisting of Satwata, Dasarha, Kukura, Adhaka, Bhoja, Vrishni and Madhu tribes will be kept ready to overthrow the enemies of [[Pandavas]], viz the [[Kauravas]] headed by [[Duryodhana]], ruling the [[Kuru kingdom|Kuru]] city [[Hastinapura]]. [[Bala Rama]], with plough as his weapon, will lead the warriors consisting of bowmen, horsemen, foot-soldiers, cars and elephants.<br />
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In the fifth book, Chapter 83 of Mahabharata (MBh 5.83), it is mentioned that [[Pandava]]'s mother [[Kunti]] also stayed for some time in Anarta, during the exile of the Pandavas.<br />
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=== Pandava's cousins from Anarta join them at Upaplavya ===<br />
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====Mahabharata 4.72====<br />
After the expiry of the thirteenth year, the five [[Pandavas]] took up their abode in one of Virata's towns called [[Upaplavya]]. [[Arjuna]] brought over [[Abhimanyu]] and [[Krishna in the Mahābhārata|Vasudeva Krishna]], and also many people of the Dasarha race from the '''Anarta''' country.<br />
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=== Both Duryodhana and Arjuna arrive at Anarta city (Dwaraka) seeking alliance ===<br />
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*Mbh 5.7<br />
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Both [[Duryodhana]] and [[Arjuna]] arrived at the city of '''Anarta''' (Dwaraka alias Dwaravati) seeking alliance of [[Yaduvanshi Aheer|Yadavas]], to join their side in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. Some Yadava heroes allied with [[Kauravas]] while others allied with the [[Pandavas]]. [[Krishna in the Mahābhārata|Vasudeva Krishna]] allied with the [[Pandavas]] and promised not to take any weapons in the battle. Thus he took part in the war not as a warrior, but as a diplomat, an ambassador of peace, an adviser on war-strategy and as the guide and car-driver of [[Arjuna]]. The army owned by [[Krishna in the Mahābhārata|Vasudeva Krishna]], called the [[Narayani Sena]] was given to [[Duryodhana]]. The Narayani Sena consisted of a large body of cowherd warriors, all of whom are able to fight in the thick of battle. Another hero [[Bala Rama]], took a neutral standpoint, though he wished to aid [[Duryodhana]], because he cannot fight against his brother [[Krishna in the Mahābhārata|Vasudeva Krishna]], who had already joined the [[Pandavas]]. Thus he will not fight for any of the parties and wished to set for a pilgrimage over [[Sarasvati River]]. The Bhoja Yadava hero, [[Kritavarman]] joined [[Duryodhana]] with a body of troops numbering an [[Akshauhini]] of troops. Another Yadava hero, [[Satyaki]] joined the Pandavas, with an Akshohini of troops.<br />
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=== Anarta mentioned as a kingdom of Ancient India (Bharata Varsha) ===<br />
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*MBh. 6.9<br />
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the Pundras, the Bhargas, the Kiratas, the Sudeshnas, and the Yamunas, the Sakas, the Nishadhas, the '''Anartas''', the Nairitas, the Durgalas, the Pratimasyas, the Kuntalas, and the Kusalas;<br />
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=== Anartas in Kurukhsetra war ===<br />
* [[Satyaki]] was a general in the [[Pandava]], army. He was a chief of Anartas. (9. 17)<br />
* [[Kritavarman]] was a general in the [[Kaurava]], army (9. 17). He is described as the dweller of the Anarta country, the son of Hridika, the mighty car-warrior, the foremost one among the Satwatas, the chief of the Bhojas.<br />
* viviṃśati, one among the 100 [[Kaurava]] brothers, had slain hundreds of Anarta warriors.<br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[Mahajanapadas]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* [[Kisari Mohan Ganguli]], ''The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose'', 1883–1896.<br />
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{{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata}}<br />
{{Mahabharata}}<br />
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[[Category:Yadava kingdoms]]<br />
[[Category:Vadnagar]]</div>Leopoldo10S