Bhadrakara

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Bhadrakara (भद्रकार) was a king mentioned in Mahabharata, who left his kingdom, in fear of Jarasandha, and took refuge in South India.

Variants

• Bhadrakara (भद्रकार) Mahabharata (I.89.46), (II.13.25).
• Bhadrākara (भद्राकर)
• Bhadrakāra (भद्रकार)

History

Bhadrākara (भद्राकर).— Name of an island covering one thousand yojanas, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 84. In Bhadrākara is the abode of Vāyu where he remains in corporeal form. The people who live here are of golden complexion and have a life-span of five thousand years. Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇa

Bhadrakāra (भद्रकार).— A king of ancient India; he once left his kingdom, in fear of Jarāsandha, and took refuge in South India. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 14, Verse 26). Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopaedia

1) Bhadrakara (भद्रकर).—(c) a kingdom in the Madhyadeśa.

2) Bhadrakāra (भद्रकार).—A tribe; a Janapada.

3) Bhadrākara (भद्राकर).—The island of Vāyu; to the west of Candradvīpam; people here live to an age of 500 years, and are righteous. Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana

Ref: https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/bhadrakara

In Mahabharata

Bhadrakara (भद्रकार) is mentioned in Mahabharata (I.89.46), (II.13.25),

Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Book I Chapter 89 gives History of Puru and Pandavas (Aila dynasty). Bhadrakara (भद्रकर) is mentioned in Mahabharata (I.89.46).....And Abhishvata begat Parikshit the powerful, Shavalashva, Abhiraja, Viraja, Shalmala of great physical strength, Uchaihsravas, Bhadrakara and Jitari the eighth. In the race of these were born, as the fruit of their pious acts seven mighty car-warriors with Janamejaya at their head.

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Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 13 mentions the Tribes who fled out of fear of Jarasandha. Bhadrakara (भद्रकर) is mentioned in Mahabharata (II.13.25). ....The eighteen tribes of the Bhojas, from fear of Jarasandha, have all fled towards the west; so also have the Surasenas (II.13.20), the Bhadrakas, the Vodhas, the Salwas, the Patachcharas, the Susthalas, the Mukuttas, and the Kulindas, along with the Kuntis. And the king of the Salwayana tribe with their brethren and followers; and the southern Panchalas and the eastern Kosalas have all fled to the country of the Kuntis. So also the Matsyas and the Sannyastapadas, overcome with fear, leaving their dominions in the north, have fled into the southern country. And so all the Panchalas, alarmed at the power of Jarasandha, have left their own kingdom and fled in all directions.

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Sandhya Jain has mentioned Bhadrakara (Madra) - Rank among the eighteen tribes of Bhojas who fled out of fear of Jarasandha (II.13.25); were part of the Salva confederacy. It was in the list of Tribes With unclear Position in Kurukshetra War.