It was the Vedic age and the entire land of the country was
ruled by various kingdoms like those of Bharatas, Panchalas,
Videhas and so on. Sudas was ruler of Bharatas and his territory
lay between Parushni and Yamuna rivers. Sage Vishwamitra stayed
with the Bharatas along with Sage Jamadagni as his chief priest.
Sage Vasishta was the priest of Sudas earlier. However, Sage
Vishwamitra performed great austerities and a four day rite called
Sanjaya to obtain victory. He led Sudas to his victorious campaigns
on Vipas and Shutudri rivers. Sudas being over ambitious learnt
that Sage Vasishta possessed more divine knowledge. He also wanted
to seek the help of the other kings known as Trtsus. Thus, Sage
Vishwamitra was dismissed and he joined the enemies of Sudas. Sudas
had hostility with 10 other tribes that ruled the Gangetic and
Sindhu river plains like Anu, Druhyu, Puru, Turvasa, Yadu, Paktha,
Bhalanas, Alina, Vishanin and Shiva. Sage Vishwamitra on his
dismissal joined them and led the forces to march against their
rival, Sudas. This event seemed to sow the roots of enemity between
Vasishta and Vishwamitra. Sudas forces were attacked by combined
army of the confederate kings on banks of Parushni river. King
Sudas had a chaste queen Sudevi whom he had received through the
favour of Ashvins. The Trtsus under the guidance of Sage Vasishta
joined hands with Sudas and fought his enemies. As the battle
enraged for days, on one day it turned out to be very fierce and
Sudas felt that his army would be defeated. However, ambition let
him to yearn for victory. At the request of sage Vasishtha, Indra
made waters of river Parushni shallow and fordable so that Sudas
army moved to other side. Allied forces of enemy tried to chase
Sudas by crossing Parushni. Indra sent down heavy floods in order
to route out Sage Vasishthas enemies. The allied forces drowned in
the onrushing floods. Some of them tried to make the waters shallow
by digging canals, but were washed away by mighty currents. Those
who succeeded in reaching the other banks of the river were killed
by Sudas armies. Bheda, an enemy of Sudas was defeated by Sudas
himself on banks of the Yamuna. Indra fought and overthrow Kavasa,
a principal enemy of Sudas. Kavi Chayamana, son of Chayamana and
enemy of Sudas was killed when he was fleeing the battle. The
defeated people were forced to bring heads of horses as tribute to
the victor. Indra and Varuna at behest of Vasishta saved Sudas on
many occasions. As Sudas was fighting the confederate 10 kings, he
was attacked from east by three Non-Aryan tribes Ajas, Shigrus and
Yakshus led by Bheda whom Sudas defeated all of them on banks of
Yamuna. Thus, the Dasa Rajna battle was won over by King Sudas.
