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{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| name = Brihadbala
| dynasty = [[Suryavamsha]]
| texts = [[Mahabharata]]
| region = [[Kosala]]
| father = Vishrutanavanta
| children = [[Barhināman]]
}}{{Short description|King in Hindu literature}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{expert needed|1=Hinduism|date=March 2015}}


'''Brihadbala''' is a character in the Indian epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref>Dimensions of Indian Civilization, page 176, Makhan Jha</ref> A descendant of [[Rama]], he belongs to the [[Ikshvaku dynasty]]. Born to [[Vishrutavanta]], he was the 117th generation of Ikshvaku Vansh and the last king of the [[Kosala Kingdom]]. In the [[Kurukshetra War]], Brihadbala fought for the [[Kauravas]] and was killed by [[Abhimanyu]].{{cn|date=July 2019}}
'''Brihadbala''' ({{Langx|sa|बृहद्बल}}, {{IAST3|Bṛhadbala}}) is a king mentioned in [[Hinduism]], including the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref>Dimensions of Indian Civilization, page 176, Makhan Jha</ref> He is also known by the name Srutayu according to the [[Linga Purana]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Shastri |first=J. L. |title=The Linga Purana |year=1951 |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-linga-purana/d/doc1195279.html |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=9788120803404}}</ref> He is described to be the last king of the [[Kosala Kingdom]]. In the [[Kurukshetra War]], Brihadbala fought for the [[Kauravas]] and was killed by [[Abhimanyu]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Debroy |first=Bibek |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oLU8DwAAQBAJ&dq=Brihadbala+Kosala&pg=PT13 |title=The Valmiki Ramayana: Vol. 3 |date=2017-10-25 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-87326-28-6 |pages=13 |language=en}}</ref>  his son was [[Barhināman]] who ruled [[ayodhya]] after him.


==Birth==
==Legend==
According to the ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' and ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', Brihadbala is a [[Genealogy of Rama|descendant of Rama]] on [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kusha]]'s side, and belongs to the [[Ikshvaku dynasty]]. Makhan Jha in his ''Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective'' claims that Brihadbala is the fifteenth king after Rama.<ref name="Jha1997">{{cite book|last=Jha|first=Makhan|title=Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC|year=1997|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=978-81-7533-034-4|page=177}}</ref> Brihadbala is considered to be the last king of the Ikshvaku dynasty; the dynasty spanned 31-32 generations between Rama and him.<ref name="Agarwal2013">{{cite book|last=Agarwal|first=M. K.|title=The Vedic Core of Human History: And Truth will be the Savior|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zObPAwAAQBAJ|year=2013|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-1-4917-1595-6|page=14}}</ref>
According to the ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' and the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', Brihadbala is a [[Genealogy of Rama|descendant of Rama]] on [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kusha]]'s side, and belongs to the [[Solar dynasty|Suryavamsha]] (Solar dynasty). Makhan Jha, in his ''Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective'' claims that Brihadbala is the fifteenth king after Rama.<ref name="Jha1997">{{cite book|last=Jha|first=Makhan|title=Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC|year=1997|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=978-81-7533-034-4|page=177}}</ref> Brihadbala is considered to be the last king of the line of [[Ikshvaku]]; the dynasty spanned 31-32 generations between Rama and him.<ref name="Agarwal2013">{{cite book|last=Agarwal|first=M. K.|title=The Vedic Core of Human History: And Truth will be the Savior|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zObPAwAAQBAJ|year=2013|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-1-4917-1595-6|page=14}}</ref>


==In Mahabharata==
The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' describes Brihadbala as the ruler of [[Kosala Kingdom|Kingdom of Kosala]]. He was subjugated by [[Bhima]] during the [[Rajasuya|Rajasuya sacrifice]]. However, a subsequent conquest by [[Karna]] during his [[Digvijaya (conquest)|Digvijaya]] Yatra resulted in Brihadbala's ultimate allegiance to the [[Kauravas]] during the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref name="Pruthi2004">{{cite book|last=Pruthi|first=Raj|title=Vedic Civilization|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z3ksBrWoZm0C|year=2004|publisher=Discovery Publishing House|isbn=978-81-7141-875-6|page=75}}</ref> On the thirteenth day of the war, when [[Abhimanyu]], [[Arjuna]]'s son, penetrates into the [[Padmavyuha]], Brihadbala fights him, along with a host of Kaurava warriors including [[Drona]], [[Kripa]], [[Karna]], [[Ashwatthama]], and [[Kritavarma]]. In the fierce duel that ensued between Brihadbala and Abhimanyu, Brihadbala was mortally wounded by Abhimanyu's arrows.<ref name="Menon2006">{{cite book|last=Menon|first=Ramesh|authorlink=Ramesh Menon|title=The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uA-2_WMhpzoC|year=2006|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-40188-8|page=246}}</ref>


During the times of Mahabharata, Kosala Kingdom was split into five. The five Kosala kingdoms mentioned in Mahabharata are - North Kosala, South Kosala, East Kosala, Central Kosala and southern part of central kosala.{{need citation|date=May 2020}}
According to the [[Shiva Purana]], Brihadbala is succeeded by his son, Barhināman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2018-11-03 |title=Kings of the solar race (sūryavaṃśa) [Chapter 39] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226599.html |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>
 
Eastern Kosala was captured by the Magadha king Jarasandha, who was later killed by Bhima before the start of the Kurukshetra war of Mahabharata. Central Kosala, the original Kosala ruled by Rama, still had Ayodhya as its capital during the times of Mahabharata and was ruled by Dheerghayaghnya. Central Kosala and North Kosala were conquered by the Pandava brother Bhima in his military expedition. Southern Kosala, the native kingdom of Rama's mother Kausalaya, in modern-day Madhya Pradesh, was conquered by the Pandava Brother Sahadeva in his military expedition. The fifth Kosala Kingdom between Central Kosala and South Kosala was ruled by Brihadbala, a descendant of Kusha.
 
The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' describes Brihadbala as the ruler of [[Kosala Kingdom|Kingdom of Kosala]]. He was subjugated by [[Bhima]] during the [[Rajasuya|Rajasuya sacrifice]], and a subsequent conquest by [[Karna]] during the latter's Digvijaya Yatra meant that he sided with the [[Kauravas]] during the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref name="Pruthi2004">{{cite book|last=Pruthi|first=Raj|title=Vedic Civilization|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z3ksBrWoZm0C|year=2004|publisher=Discovery Publishing House|isbn=978-81-7141-875-6|page=75}}</ref> On the thirteenth day of the war when [[Abhimanyu]], [[Arjuna]]'s son, penetrates into the [[Padmavyuha]], Brihadbala fights him along with a host of Kaurava warriors including [[Drona]], [[Kripa]], [[Karna]], [[Ashwatthama]], and [[Kritavarma]]. In a fierce duel that ensured between him and Abhimanyu, he gets mortally hit by the latter's arrows.<ref name="Menon2006">{{cite book|last=Menon|first=Ramesh|authorlink=Ramesh Menon|title=The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uA-2_WMhpzoC|year=2006|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-0-595-40188-8|page=246}}</ref>
 
Brihadbala is succeeded by his son Brihatkshya.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Ikshvaku dynasty]]
[[Category:Solar dynasty]]
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
 
[[Category:Mythological kings of Kosala]]
{{India-royal-stub}}

Latest revision as of 19:11, 16 February 2025

Brihadbala
TextsMahabharata
RegionKosala
Personal information
Parents
  • Vishrutanavanta (father)
ChildrenBarhināman
DynastySuryavamsha


Brihadbala (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., IAST: Bṛhadbala) is a king mentioned in Hinduism, including the Hindu epic Mahabharata.[1] He is also known by the name Srutayu according to the Linga Purana.[2] He is described to be the last king of the Kosala Kingdom. In the Kurukshetra War, Brihadbala fought for the Kauravas and was killed by Abhimanyu.[3] his son was Barhināman who ruled ayodhya after him.

Legend[edit | edit source]

According to the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana, Brihadbala is a descendant of Rama on Kusha's side, and belongs to the Suryavamsha (Solar dynasty). Makhan Jha, in his Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective claims that Brihadbala is the fifteenth king after Rama.[4] Brihadbala is considered to be the last king of the line of Ikshvaku; the dynasty spanned 31-32 generations between Rama and him.[5]

The Mahabharata describes Brihadbala as the ruler of Kingdom of Kosala. He was subjugated by Bhima during the Rajasuya sacrifice. However, a subsequent conquest by Karna during his Digvijaya Yatra resulted in Brihadbala's ultimate allegiance to the Kauravas during the Kurukshetra War.[6] On the thirteenth day of the war, when Abhimanyu, Arjuna's son, penetrates into the Padmavyuha, Brihadbala fights him, along with a host of Kaurava warriors including Drona, Kripa, Karna, Ashwatthama, and Kritavarma. In the fierce duel that ensued between Brihadbala and Abhimanyu, Brihadbala was mortally wounded by Abhimanyu's arrows.[7]

According to the Shiva Purana, Brihadbala is succeeded by his son, Barhināman.[8]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Dimensions of Indian Civilization, page 176, Makhan Jha
  2. ↑ Shastri, J. L. (1951). The Linga Purana. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120803404.
  3. ↑ Debroy, Bibek (25 October 2017). The Valmiki Ramayana: Vol. 3. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 13. ISBN 978-93-87326-28-6.
  4. ↑ Jha, Makhan (1997). Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 177. ISBN 978-81-7533-034-4.
  5. ↑ Agarwal, M. K. (2013). The Vedic Core of Human History: And Truth will be the Savior. iUniverse. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-4917-1595-6.
  6. ↑ Pruthi, Raj (2004). Vedic Civilization. Discovery Publishing House. p. 75. ISBN 978-81-7141-875-6.
  7. ↑ Menon, Ramesh (2006). The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering. iUniverse. p. 246. ISBN 978-0-595-40188-8.
  8. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (3 November 2018). "Kings of the solar race (sūryavaṃśa) [Chapter 39]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
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