Dehli My Delhi-The First city “Indraprastha”

“Indraprastha” Story

English: Indraprastha, a bird’s eye view, observed by Arjuna and Krishna from an elevated ground. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I was sitting at the Yamuna bank & story of Delhi was unfolding like Moon unfolds itself by and by.

Krishna Arjun (Photo credit: Google Images)

A long ago, say 5000-6000 years ago, one fine morning five big chariots came & stopped at the eastern bank opposite side to where now Delhi is. The leading chariot was being driven by a person with somewhat darker complexion but very handsome & most beautiful man ever born on the earth. He was none other than the boy who used to play in Yamuna water & knew Yamuna as his back of his hand. He was none other than Lord Krishna. He was leading expelled Pandavas in search of their own capital & kingdom. Dhritarashtra expelled them very cunningly thus paving the way for his own son Duryodhan.

Krishna signaled all chariots to stop. He stood in front & said,

“Parth ! Look at the western side of the Yamuna. That is Khandav Van. It has no civilized society. It is full of dense forest where live outlaws driven out by mighty Hastinapur kingdom. It is full of dangerous animals & poisonous snakes lead by Takshak, There is a ridge at the northern side of the forest known as Bhojla Pahadi (Modern name) which is safe abode for western traders going to Hastinapur, Magadh and other kingdoms. These traders enter India & reach Yamuna bank before monsoon after crossing five might rivers in north. They rest there during rainy season and cross Yanuma by boat after her water recedes. But during their stay at Bhojla Pahadi, local outlaws use to plunder & killing them very often. There is no one to provide them safety. These bandits have more gold & other precious stone than Hastinapur because they are plundering traders since ages. Moreover, they have kidnapped “Vishwakarma, the master craftsman” very recently. Pandavas! Burn this Khandav Van & killing these bundits in such a way that not a single of them remain alive or escapes but be careful enough to rescue “Vishwakarma”. Make your capital here by the help of “Vishwakarma” & the treasure you recover from this bandits.

Arjun was very argumentative since begging. He interrupted Krishna “Madhav! There are few hitches. First no one knows about this area, so what so ever your are telling may be just hearsay. Second, as for as I know this area is infected by most poisonous snakes who may make it impossible to live here even in future. The last but most important, what we will do there after being cutoff from rest civilized world? I don’t think this is right place for us to make our Capital. Should we make this place as capital, as per your advice, then why to burn down this ancient forest thus creating environmental imbalance?“

Krishna smiled & said “Elder brother Yadhushtir Sir ! I need not to remind you the cunningness of Dhritrasthra, Duryodhna and his maternal uncle Shakuni. It would be better for you all to remain cut off from them till you are powerful enough to face them. If you make this place as your capital, then just by providing safety to western traders, you will earn enough tax to make your kingdom as the richest kingdom and also you will put a military wedge between Gandhar & Hastinapur, in case war breaks with Hastinapur in future. For this, you must make five military posts at outskirt of this future kingdom in the villages Kusasthala, Vrikasthala, Makandi, Varanavata and Tilprastha. They will work at advance warning post if there is any attack.

Moreover, in case Duryodhan snatches your kingdom again, I am sure he will try, you can prepare your army again in Kamyaka Forest. It has a good lake (Kamyaka lake) & dense forest to hide your military. As these five villages are not under Hastinapur, you can reclaim them in case your kingdom is taken by fraud.

The people living in the area of Kusasthala, Vrikasthala, Makandi, Varanavata, and Tilprastha are heartless & rare warriors who don’t even hesitate to cut heads of their own father & sons in war. They will serve in your army making them most dreaded army.

Now answer to your last objection Arjun. You must burn the Khandav Van because it will burn for months, making the soil so hot that all snacks & repitiles will either burn or leave the area forever. By burning forest, you will find suitable place for your fort too. As this area is hilly area, you will find good stone for your fort.(Indraprastha was first Indian fort which was made of stone)

Soil of five river area(now known as Punjab) will produce not food grain but gold for your public, if cultivated carefully. Brothers! Dhritrasthra  has gifted you golden pot, of course by mistake only. Don’t let this opportunity go. Catch it by both hands. But remain vigilant & prepare for any eventuality in future.”

Pandavs followed Krishna advice & created magnificent fort with the help of Vishwkarma & kingdom after burning down Khandav Van. But unfortunately Takshak escaped. They recovered a treasure 100 times more than Hastinapur, Magadh had together at that time. They name thier new capital as Indraprastha. Arjun got his famous bow, Gandiva, here.

Yudhishtir was a wise & noble king. He made trade route safe & comfortable right from Gandhar to Indraprastha. He got trees planted along the route & made many dharmshaals(Inns) for their stay. (The same trade route was repaired by Ashoka & extended up to Bangal.) Thus Yudhistir became darling to these traders & Indrapartha earn so much tax from them that the general public had to pay nothing.

Yudhishtir created irrigation facilities in Five river area, resulting more than enough food grains for public. His kingdom was the best at that time in turns of public facilities, justice & safety.

But as you know, good days are eclipsed when one is slave of bad habits. The gambling habit of Yudhishtir brought misfortune for Indraprastha. He lost it in gamble & Pandavas had to spend 13 years in forest. Rest is history. Eventually Mahabharat was fought at Kurukshetra. Pandavs won but they shifted their capital to Hastinapur.

(Pandavas shifting left an stigmata on Delhi that the ruler who made Delhi as his capital, he lost his empire. It remained true right from Pandvas to British rulers. Now fortunately we have democracy where ruler changes every 5 years. So hope this will never lost)

The magnificent Indraprastha had no parallel during its time. But its glory was short. Thereafter, Delhi was lost in the pages of history for very long time but always remained an important place due the trade route got constructed by Yudhishtir.

This ends the story of Indraprastha. But 4000 years after Mahabharat, Indrapratha, in name of Lal Kot, was to play as Bharat Bhagy Vidhata. Read previous post “Delhi My Delhi“

Watch out next post “Delhi my Delhi-Story of Lal Kot born after Indraprastha

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Pradeep Shanker

A retired employee. Keep watcher of social life. Likes to read book & interact with people. Very spiritual but not religious.

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