Dvaitavana

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Dvaitavana (द्वैतवन) is a Forest and a lake mentioned in Mahabharata located on the banks of Sarasvati River. Shatapatha Brahmana 13,54,9 mentions a King named Dvaitavana. Historians have identified Dvaitavana with Deoband town in Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh.

Variants

• Dvaitavana (द्वैतवन) (AS, p.460)
• Dvaitavana lake (द्वैतवन) (AS, p.460)
• Dwaitavana (द्वैतवन) (Lake) (III.174.21), (IX.36.26)
• Dvaita Forest (द्वैतवन)
• Dvaita/Dwaita (द्वैत)

Dvaita Forest and lake

The Dvaita Forest or Dvaitavana (द्वैतवन) was situated to the south of the Kamyaka Forest. It contained within it a lake called the Dwaita lake, abounding with flowers, and delightful to look at, and inhabited by many species of birds, elephants and many trees (3,24). It was on the south-western outskirts of Kurujangala and thus the whole of the Kuru Kingdom. It was situated near the borders of the desert (northern extension of the Thar desert into Haryana) (3,176). It also lay on the banks of the Saraswati River (known there as the Bhogavati River) (3-24,176). The holy fig, the Rudraksha, the Rohitaka, the cane and the jujube, the catechu, the Shirisha, the Bel, the Inguda, the Karira, the Pilu and Sami trees grew on the banks of the Saraswati (3,176).

Pandavas stay in the Dvaitavana

First time: The Pandavas during the initial years of their 12-year exile to the forests, came to the Dvaita Forest from the Kamyaka woods, to avoid frequent visits from the people of Kurujangala. It was the close of summer at that time (the 1st time) (3,24). They then went back to Kamyaka again (3,50).

Second time: After their pilgrimage, and after the return of Arjuna from the northern Himalayas, they came back to the Dvaita Forest for a second time (3,176). Then Duryodhana came to see the Pandavas living in distress at Dwaita. He camped 4 miles away from the Dwaita lake (3,237). He came there under the pretence of inspecting the cattle-stations of the Kauravas in the vicinity. When he reached the Dwaita lake, the Gandharvas imprisoned him; he was released by the intervention of the Pandavas (2,244).

Third Time: Owing to the decline of the deer population, the Pandavas again shifted to the Kamyaka Forest (3,256). They came again to the Dvaita woods (for a 3rd time) during their last (12th) year of exile and forest life (3-176,308). Then they asked their followers to leave the forest and themselves left for the Matsya Kingdom to spend their 13th year of exile anonymously (3-313)

Balarama during his pilgrimage along the Saraswati River had visited the Dvaita lake (9,37).

द्वैतवन

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ...द्वैतवन (AS, p.460) - महाभारत में वर्णित वन जहाँ पांडवों ने वनवास काल का एक अंश व्यतीत किया था। यह वन सरस्वती नदी के तट पर स्थित था, 'ते यात्वा पांडवास्तत्र ब्राह्मणैर्बहुभि: सह, पुण्यं द्वैतवनं रम्यं विविशुर्भरतर्षभा:। तमालतालाभ्रमधूकनीप कदंबसर्जार्जुनकर्णिकारै:, तपात्यये पुष्पधरैरुपेतं महावनं राष्ट्रपतिं ददर्श। [p.461]: मनोरमां भोगवतीमुपेत्य पूतात्मनांचीरजटाधराणाम्, तस्मिन् वने धर्मभृतां निवासे ददर्श सिद्धर्षिगणाननेकान्' (महाभारत वन 24, 16-17-20).

भोगवती नदी सरस्वती ही का एक नाम है। भारवी के 'किरातार्जुनीयम्' 1,1 में भी द्वैतवन का उल्लेख है-- 'स वर्णलिंगी विदित: समाययौ युधिष्ठिरं द्वैतवने वनेचर:.

महाभारत सभा पर्व में द्वैतवन नाम के सरोवर का भी वर्णन है-- 'पुण्य द्वैतवनं सर:'(महाभारत सभा पर्व 24, 13.

कुछ विद्वानों के अनुसार ज़िला सहारनपुर, उत्तर प्रदेश में स्थित देवबंद ही महाभारत कालीन द्वैतवन है। संभव है प्राचीन काल में सरस्वती नदी का मार्ग देवबंद के पास से ही रहा हो।

शतपथ ब्राह्मण 13, 54, 9 में द्वैतवन नामक राजा को मत्स्य-नरेश कहा गया है। इस ब्राह्मण ग्रंथ की गाथा के अनुसार इसने 12 अश्वों से अश्वमेध यज्ञ किया था जिससे द्वैतवन नामक सरोवर का यह नाम हुआ था। इस यज्ञ को सरस्वती तट पर संपन्न हुआ बताया गया है। इस उल्लेख के आधार पर द्वैतवन सरोवर की स्थिति मत्स्य अलवर, जयपुर, भरतपुर के क्षेत्र में माननी पड़ेगी। द्वैतवन नामक वन भी सरोवर के निकट ही स्थित होगा। मीमांसा के रचयिता जैमिनी का जन्मस्थान द्वैतवन ही बताया जाता है।

In Mahabharata

Dwaitavana (द्वैतवन) (Lake) in Mahabharata (III.174.21), (IX.36.26)

Vana Parva, Mahabharata/Book III Chapter 174 describes Pandvas journey in twelfth year of their sojourn in forests having arrived reach Saraswati River. Dwaitavana (द्वैतवन) (Lake) is mentioned in Mahabharata (III.174.21).....And the twelfth year of their sojourn in forests having arrived, those scions of the race of Kuru, blazing in effulgence, and engaged in asceticism, always devoted principally to the practice of archery, repaired cheerfully from that Chitraratha-like forest to the borders of the desert, and desirous of dwelling by the Saraswati they went there, and from the banks of that river they reached the lake of Dwaitavana.

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Shalya Parva, Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 36 describes Baladeva's journey along the bank of the Sarasvati river. Dwaitavana (द्वैतवन) (Lake) is mentioned in Mahabharata (IX.36.26). He (Baladeva) then, O king, proceeded to the Dwaita lake. Arrived there, Vala saw diverse kinds of ascetics in diverse kinds of attire. Bathing in its waters, he worshipped the Brahmanas. Having given away unto the Brahmanas diverse articles of enjoyment in profusion, Baladeva then, O king, proceeded along the southern bank of the Sarasvati.