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Kalayavana in Harivamsa - Brief account in Harivamsa Parva

(From the Bengali recension of Harivamsa. Note prepared by Pradip Bhattacharya)



Harivamsa, Harivamsa Parva, chapter 35, verses 12-22 (Aryashastra recension of Bengal)
narrated by VaishampAyana to Janamejaya. Abruptly, in the account of Vasudeva's progeny, this account is inserted:


Shaishirayana was the husband of the Trigarta king's daughter. Questions arose about his masculinity and his potency because his seed was never ejaculated. - 12
Twelve years having passed thus (i.e. without issue), that Garga clanist (i.e. Shaishirayana) was so filled with rage at the false scandal that his complexion turned the colour of black 'Ayasa' (bronze or iron). - 13
He engaged intercourse with a Gopa maiden who was a celestial nymph named Gopali disguised as a cowgirl. - 14
At men's behest, the Garga clanist's spouse did not let fall (discard) that unbearable seed but bore it and delivered a mighty monarch named Kalayavana, the forequarters of whose war-steeds resembled oxen. - 15-16
That child grew up in the inner apartments of a childless Yavana king. Later, he became famous as Kalayavana. - 17
Eager to fight, he began enquiring of the best of Brahmins about suitable adversaries. Narada, who travels everywhere, informed him of the Vrishni and Andhaka clans. - 18
Then with an army of an akshauhini he attacked Mathura and sent a messenger to the dwelling of the Vrishni-Andhakas. - 19
Terrified of Kalayavana, the Vrishni-Andhakas jointly took counsel with the most intelligent Krishna. - 20
Finally, they decided to flee and, praying to Pinaki (Shiva), abandoned delightful Mathura determining to live in Dvaravati located in Kushasthali. - 21


The Indian Heracles is Hari-Krishna. Dionysos is possibly Siva. (PB)


Added note by Pradip Bhattacharya:
K.D.Sethna in his "Ancient India in a New Light" shows that the Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription is by Sandrocottus-Chandragupta-I whose term for the invading Greeks is shown to be Vahlika (outsiders from Bactria which fills in the puzzling gap in Indian records of mention of the incursions by Alexander and Seleucus. It is the founder of the Guptas and not of the Mauryan Dynasty who stands firmly identified as Megasthenes' Sandrocottus.