Susharma

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

Susharma (सुशर्म) was an ancient king mentioned in Mahabharatha (VI.47.18), (VI.112.28). He was king of Trigarta and brother of Duryodhana's wife, Bhanumati.

Variants

• Susarma (सुशर्म)
• Suśarmā (सुशर्म)
• Susarman (सुशर्म)
• Susarma Chandra (सुशर्म चन्द्र)
• Susharma Chandra (सुशर्म चन्द्र)
• Susharmapura (सुशर्मपुर) - City of Susharma

Mention by Panini

Susharma (सुशर्म) is a place name mentioned by Panini under Arihanadi (अरीहणादि) (4.2.80.1) group.

Various definitions

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Suśarmā (सुशर्मा).—King of Trigarta deśa. The following information about him is gathered from Mahābhārata.

(i) Suśarman, son of Vṛddhakṣema attended Draupadī’s wedding. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 185, Verse 9).

(ii) Once he incited Duryodhana to attack Matsya, the Virāṭa King. Accordingly Duryodhana attacked the Virāṭa city and Suśarman aided him in the battle. (Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 30).

(iii) In the battle that followed the lifting of the cows of the Virāṭa King by the Kauravas, Suśarman took the Virāṭa King as captive. (Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 33, Verse 7).

(iv) In the battle that followed the above incident Bhīma caught Suśarman as prisoner. (Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 33, Verse 25).

(v) At the instance of Yudhiṣṭhira Bhīma set Suśarman free. (Virāṭa Parva, Chapter 33, Verse 58)

(vi) Suśarman fought against the Pāṇḍavas and on the first day of the great war he fought a duel with Cekitāna. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 60).

(vii) Arjuna defeated Suśarman. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 82, Verse 1).

(viii) He fought with Arjuna, Bhīma and Dhṛṣṭadyumna. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 114; Droṇa Parva, Chapter 14).

(ix) He vowed that he would kill Arjuna. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 17, Verse 11).

(x) When Droṇācārya was killed, he ran away from the battle-field. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 193, Verse 18).

(xi) Arjuna killed Suśarman. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 27, Verse 45).

(xii) Names like Prasthalādhipa, Rukmaratha, Traigarta and Trigarta are used as synonyms of Suśārman.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Suśarmā (सुशर्मा) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VI.47.18, VI.112.28)

Source: ISKCON Press: Glossary

Suśarmā (सुशर्मा).—The King of the Trigartas. He was an ally of Duryodhana and brought an akṣauhiṇī division of troops to Kurukṣetra. He was very envious of Arjuna and was ultimately killed by Arjuna.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Susarma (सुसर्म): King of Trigarta, a supporter of the Kauravas who backed the proposal to invade Matsya, Virata's country.

Source - https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/susarma

History

Alexander Cunningham writes that The royal family of Jalandhara and Kangra is one of the oldest in India, and their genealogy from the time of the founder, Susarma Chandra, appears to have a much stronger claim to our belief than any one of the long strings of names now shown by the more powerful families of Rajasthan. All the different scions of this house claim to be of Somavanshi descent ; and they assert that their ancestors held the district of Multan and fought in the Great War on the side of Duryodhan against the five Pandu brothers. After the war they lost their country, and retired under the leadership of Susarma Chandra to the Jalandhar Doab, where they established themselves, and built the stronghold of Kangra.

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V. S. Agrawala writes that Ashtadhyayi of Panini mentions janapada Sālveyaka (शाल्वेयक) - Shālveyakas are mentioned as separate people in Mahabharata, grouped with Matsyas in their fight with the King Susharma of Trigarta (Virataparva.29.2). They must be same as Shalvaputra mentioned in Udyogaparva (4.24). The name Sālvaputra may still be traced in Alwar region. The Sālveyas stood in relation to Shalvas as the Mādreyas to Madras.

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V. S. Agrawala tells that the Janakis are mentioned as helpmates of Suśarmā of Trigarta (Adiparva, 61.17, Udyogaparva, 4.17).

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Brihadratha Dynasty (c. 1700–799 BC), Semi-legendary rulers in Purana accounts include King Susharma Chand.

Kurukshetra War Day-1: Susharma clashed with Chekitana.

Kurukshetra War Day-12: The king of Trigartadesa, Susharma along with his 3 brothers and 35 sons who were fighting on the Kaurava side made a pact that they would kill Arjuna or die. They went into the battle field on the twelfth day and challenged Arjuna. Arjuna gave them a fierce fight in which the brothers fell dead after fighting a brave fight.

He led a huge army and concentrated on fighting Arjuna during the Kurukshetra war, having taken a vow to kill him. He was slain by Arjuna.

Early history of Chamba reveals that One significant happening during the time of the great war of Mahabharata (circa 1400BC) was the founding of the Katoch monarchy of Kangra by King Susharma Chandra. This Susharma Chandra is supposed to have sided with the Kaurava brothers in their war against the Pandavas. Kangra was probably named as Bhim Kot (fort of Bhim) after Bhima, one of the Pandavas.

Susharmapura in Baijnath Shiva temple Inscription Saka 1126 AD (1204 AD)

2. Baijnath Shiva (Viadyanatha) temple (right hand wall of porch) Inscription Saka 1126 AD (1204 AD) of Jayachandra mentions:

• V.1-20: Contain eulogy of Shiva and Parvati. No historical content.

• V.21: Rajanala Lakshmanachadra

• V.22: Pilgrimage to Kedaranatha by him for purifying

• V.27: Merchant named Manyuka, S/O Siddha, his mother Chinna

• V.28: His younger brother Ahuka, his wife Gulha

• V.30: Rich merchant Manyuka

• V.31: In Susharmapura lives brahman named Ralhana S/O Asuka

• V.32: Donation of two dronas paddy to Shiva from village Navagrama

• V.33: Ganeshvara S/O Brahman Govinda donated 2 hala land to temple

• V.34: Merchant Jivaka S/O Devika and Malhika donate land to temple

• V.35: Shiva temple constructed by Manyuka and Ahuka

• V.36-37: Architects Nayaka S/O Asita came from Susharmapura, and so also Thodhuka S/O Sammana

• V.38: Poet Rama S/O Shrangara and Bhringaka composed eulogy.

• V.39: On the first Lunar Day of the bright fortnight of month Jyeshtha ,when the 80th year has been completed during the reign of Jayachandra, Eulogistic poem composed by Rama on day of Sun. Elapsed year of the Saka era 1126

In Mahabharatha

Susharma is mentioned in Mahabharatha (VI.47.18), (VI.112.27, 28).

Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 47 describes immeasurable heroes assembled for Kurukshetra War. Trigartas were protecting Bhishma. And Somadatta, and Susarma, and Sudakshina, the ruler of the Kambojas and Satayus, and Srutayus, were on the right flank. Susharma is mentioned in verse (VI.47.18).

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 112 mentions another Susarman, who was not the king of the Trigartas but another person who was on the Pandava side.

"Chitrasena, having pierced Susarman with many arrows made wholly of iron, once more pierced him with sixty arrows and once more with nine. Susarman, however, excited with wrath in battle, pierced thy son, with hundreds of arrows. Chitrasena then, excited with rage, pierced his adversary with thirty straight shafts. Susarman, however, pierced Chitrasena again in return."

In Bhagavata Purana

Lambodara ancestry

'A study of the Bhagavata Purana; or, Esoteric Hinduism' by Purnendu Narayana Sinha, pp 226-227 mentions that (10) ten kings of the Sunga dynasty shall reign for 112 years. These are:Pushyamitra → Agnimitra → Sujyestha → (Vasumitra + Bhadraka + Pulinda): Pulinda → Utghosha → Vajramitra → Bhagavata → Devabhuti

Vasudeva, the minister of Devabhuti, shall kill his master and become himself the king.

Vasudeva

↓

Bhumitra

↓

Narayana

↓

Susarman

These four kings shall be called Kanvas. They shall reign for 345 years. Susarman shall be killed by his servant Balin, a King of the Andhra clan, who shall himself usurp the throne. Balin shall be succeeded by his brother Krishna.

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