Divodasa

THE LIVING ARCHIVE

About Divodasa

Mudgala is his grandfather in this genealogy, and Haryashva is the earlier ancestor whose five sons are associated with the Panchala name. Divodasa’s son Mitrayu continues the royal line through Chyavana, Sudasa, Saudasa and Somaka.

AT A GLANCE

Identity & Context

Identity: King
Form: Panchala Royal House
Tradition: Puranic Royal Genealogy

Family & Relationships

ParentBahvashva
Bahvashva is the parent of Divodasa.
ChildMitrayu
Divodasa is the parent of Mitrayu.

IN THE TRADITION

Recorded Context

Two Branches from One Household

Divodasa’s royal descendants proceed through Mitrayu and the later generations to Somaka. Prishata, Somaka’s youngest son, becomes Drupada’s father. Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna therefore belong much later in this royal family.

Ahalya is Divodasa’s sister in this account, not a later ruler in his succession. Her family through Gautama and Shatananda forms a parallel branch. Their connection is one of shared ancestry, while their children belong to different households.

ROLE & ESSENCE

Attributes & Significance

His household joins the older Panchala ancestors to the later family of Drupada. His sister Ahalya connects the same ancestry to Gautama and Shatananda through her own descendants.

Role

Divodasa is a king in the Panchala branch of the Paurava family and the twin brother of Ahalya. The Vishnu Purana names Bahvashva as his father and Mitrayu as his son.

TRADITION & MEANING

Traditions & Interpretations

The same Purana also gives a Kashi royal line with a Divodasa descended from Dhanvantari and followed by Pratardana. Here the Panchala family is defined by Bahvashva and Mitrayu. The Bhagavata places the twins directly under Mudgala; neither that variation nor the shared royal name is a reason to import all of the Kashi stories.