Masterstrock at 22:37, 6 February 2026

2026-02-06T22:37:50Z

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{{short description|Ancient kingdom in Bengal}}
{{History of Bengal}}

'''Suhma kingdom''' was an ancient kingdom during the Late [[Vedic period]] on the eastern part of the [[Indian subcontinent]], which originated in the region of [[Bengal]]. The Capital of the kingdom was [[Tamralipta Kingdom|Tamralipta]] present day [[Tamluk]]. The kingdom included present day districts of undivided [[Midnapore district|Midnapore]] ([[Tamralipta Kingdom|Tamralipta]]) and parts of [[Hooghly district|Hoogly]] and [[Howrah district|Howrah]] of [[West Bengal]].<ref name=":2">{{cite book |author=Dilip K. Chakrabarti |title=Archaeological Geography of the Ganga Plain: The Lower and the Middle Ganga |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OEZe-wAIiKIC&pg=PA125 |year=2001 |publisher=Orient Blackswan |isbn=978-81-7824-016-9 |page=125 }}</ref> This kingdom was mentioned in the epic [[Mahabharata]] along with its neighbouring kingdom ''Prasuhma''.

== References in Mahabharata ==

The founders of [[Anga kingdom|Angas]], [[Vanga kingdom|Vangas]], [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalingas]], [[Pundra kingdom|Pundras]] and Suhmas shared a common ancestry. They were all adopted sons of a king named Vali, born by a sage named Gautama Dirghatamas, who lived in [[Magadha kingdom|Magadha]] close to the city of [[Rajgir|Girivraja]].<ref>(1:104)</ref><ref>(2:21)</ref>

=== Military expeditions to Suhma ===

[[Pandu]] (the father of [[Pandavas]]) after defeating the [[Magadha kingdom|Magadhas]] and the [[Videha kingdom|Videhas]] of [[Mithila (ancient)|Mithila]], led his army against [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]], Suhma, and [[Pundra kingdom|Pundra]], as well as by the strength and prowess of his arms spread the fame of the [[Kuru kingdom|Kurus]].

[[Arjuna]], that bull amongst the son of [[Pandu]], at the head of all his troops, fiercely attacked the regions called '''Suhma''' and Sumala during his military campaign to collect tribute to [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Rajasuya]].

[[Bhima]] vanquished in battle the '''Suhmas''' and the '''Prasuhmas'''. The [[Pandava]] [[Bhima]] subjugated in battle those strong and brave heroes of fierce prowess. The heroic and mighty Vasudeva, the king of [[Pundra kingdom|Pundra]] and king Mahaujah who reigned in Kausika-Kachchha, and then attacked the king of [[Vanga kingdom|Vanga]]. Having vanquished Samudrasena and king Chandrasena and [[Tamralipta]], and also the king of the [[Mahishya|Kaivartas]] and the ruler of the '''Suhmas''', as also the kings that dwelt on the sea-shore, that bull among the Bharatas then conquered all [[Mleccha]] tribes. Karna also subjugated the [[Pundra kingdom|Pundras]] and Suhmas.

The fourth [[canto]] of the epic poem [[Raghuvamsa]], written by [[Kalidasa]] mentions that King [[Raghu]] of [[Ikshavaku]] Dynasty during his conquest in the East, he had defeated the '''Suhmas'''.In order to save their lives, they begged for his mercy. The then king (whose name is not mentioned in the [[Raghuvamsa]]) was ousted from his throne by King Raghu, but was later rethroned by him, when the king pleaded him and offered him with innumerable riches.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Klidsa|url=https://archive.org/details/raghuvamsaofkali00kliduoft|title=The Raghuvamsa of Kalidasa : with the commentary (the Samjivani) of Mallinatha; Cantos I-X; edited with a literal English translation, copious notes in Sanskrit and English, and various readings &c. &c. by M.R. Kale|last2=Mallinatha. Sajvan|last3=Kle|first3=M. R. (Moreshvar Ramchandra)|date=1922|publisher=Bombay : P.S. Rege|others=Robarts – University of Toronto}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Kingdoms of Ancient India]]
* [[History of Bengal]]

== Notes ==
*[[Mahabharata]] of [[Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa]], translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata}}

[[Category:Kingdoms in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Ancient Bengal]]

Suhma kingdom - Revision history

Masterstrock at 22:37, 6 February 2026