Videha was the kingdom of the royal sage Seeradhwaja Janaka. He is the father of Sita the wife of
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References in Mahabharata
Alliances with Vedeha Princess
Devatithi married Videha Princess
- Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 95
Extract from the lineage of kings in the Lunar Dynasty.
...Ayutanayi took for a wife Kama, the daughter of Prithusravas. And by her was born a son named Akrodhana, who took to wife Karambha, the daughter of the king of Kalinga. And of her was born Devatithi, and Devatithi took for his wife Maryada, the princess of Videha. And of her was born a son named Arihan.
Janamejaya's son married Videha Princess
- Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 95
Extract from the lineage of kings in the Lunar Dynasty.
..Parikshit married Madravati, thy mother, O king, and thou art born to her, O Janamejaya! Thou hast also begotten two sons on thy wife Vapushtama, named Satanika and Sankukarna. And Satanika also hath begotten one son named Aswamedhadatta upon the princess of Videha.
Military Campaigns through Videha
Pandu's Military Campaign
- Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 113
Pandu then marched into Mithila and subjugated the Videhas. And then Pandu led his army against Kasi, Sumbha, and Pundra, and by the strength and prowess of his arms spread the fame of the Kurus.
Bhima's Military Campaign
- Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 28
Bhima, going first into the great country of the Panchalas, began by various means to conciliate that tribe. Then that hero, within a short time, vanquished the Gandakas and the Videhas. That exalted one then subjugated the Dasarnas.
.... the hero next vanquished, by policy alone, the Sarmakas and the Varmakas. He then defeated with comparative ease, Janaka the king of the Videhas. And the hero then subjugated strategically the Sakas and the barbarians living in that part of the country. And the son of Pandu, sending forth expeditions from Videha, conquered the seven kings of the Kiratas living about the Indra mountain.
Karna's Military Campaign
- Mahabharata, Book 7, Chapter 4
Many kings, amongst whom Nagnajit was the foremost as also the Amvashthas, the Videhas, and the Gandharvas, were all vanquished by Karna while staying in Girivraja.
Panchali's Self Choice Event
- Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 189
Then those princes:
- Karna
- Duryodhana
- Salwa
- Salya
- Aswatthaman
- Kratha
- Sunitha
- Vakra
the ruler of Kalinga and Banga, Pandya, Paundra, the ruler of Videha, the chief of the Yavanas, and many other sons and grandsons of kings, sovereigns of territories, one after another began to exhibit prowess for winning that maiden of unrivalled beauty (Panchali).
The Gate of Videha
- Mahabharata, Book 3, Chapter 130
Yonder is the gate of the Manasasarovara. In the midst of this mountain, a gap hath been opened by Rama. And here is the well-known region of Vatikhanda, which, although adjacent to the gate of Videha, lieth on the north of it.
Ramayana inside Mahabharata
- Mahabharata, Book 3, Chapter 272
Dasaratha had four sons conversant with morality and profit known by the names, respectively, of
- Rama
- Lakshmana
- Satrughna
- and the mighty Bharata
And Rama had for his mother Kausalya, and Bharata had for his mother Kaikeyi, while those scourge of their enemies Lakshmana and Satrughna were the sons of Sumitra. And Janaka was the king of Videha, and Sita was his daughter.
- Mahabharata, Book 4, Chapter 21
Bhima to Panchali:- Thou mayst have heard that Janaka’s daughter Sita, the princess of Videha, followed her lord while living in dense woods.
- Mahabharata, Book 5, Chapter 117
Enumeration of best couples
- Nala with Damayanti
- Narada, with Satyavati
- Jaratkaru with Jaratkaru
- Pulastya with Pratichya
- Urnayus with Menaka
- Tumvuru with Rambha
- Vasuki with Satasirsha
- Dhananjaya with Kamari
- Rama with the princess of Videha Sita
- or Janardana with Rukmini.
The 18 Wicked Kings mentioned by Bhima
- Mahabharata, Book 5, Chapter 74
Bhima speaks words of peace, enumerates 18 bad kings
Even as, when Dharma became extinct, Kali was born in the race of Asuras flourishing with prosperity and blazing with energy, so was born:
- Udavarta among the Haihayas
- Janamejaya among the Nepas
- Vahula among the Talajanghas
- proud Vasu among the Krimis
- Ajavindu among the Suviras
- Rushardhik among the Surashtras
- Arkaja among the Valihas
- Dhautamulaka among the Chinas
- Hayagriva among the Videhas
- Varayu among the Mahaujasas
- Vahu among the Sundaras
- Pururavas among the Diptaksha
- Sahaja among the Chedis and Matsyas
- Vrishaddhaja among the Praviras
- Dharana among the Chandra-batsyas
- Bigahana among the Mukutas
- Sama among the Nandivegas
These vile individuals, spring up, at the end of each Yuga, in their respective races, for the destruction of their kinsmen.
The List of Provinces of Bharata Varsha
- Mahabharata, Book 6, Chapter 9
Videha is listed along with many other kingdoms like the Mallarashtras, Keralas, Varatrasyas, Apavahas, Chakras, Vakratapas, Sakas, Magadhas, Swakshas, Malayas, Vijayas, Angas, Vangas, Kalingas, Yakrillomans etc as a kingdom of Ancient India (Bharata Varsha).
Videhas in Kurukshetra War
- Mahabharata, Book 6, Chapter 118
Hearing these words of Duryodhana with bow in hand, many mighty combatants, excited with rage, belonging to the Videhas, the Kalingas, and the diverse tribes of the Daserkas, fell upon Arjuna.
See also
References
- Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
- http://www.videha.co.in/ Videha Ist Maithili Fortnightly e Magazine
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