KĀMBOJA I Sudakṣiṇa, the King of the country, Kāmboja. He was present at Draupadī's svayaṁvara. In
[Mahābhārata, Karṇa Parva, Chapter 156] we read that his younger brother was killed by Arjuna. The Kings of Kāmboja were all known as Kāmbojas. Long ago, this country was ruled by a King named Kāmboja. In
[Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Chapter 166, Verse 77] , we see that this Kāmboja was given a sword by the King Dhundhumāra. Perhaps it was from this King Kāmboja that the country came to be called ‘Kāmboja’.
KĀMBOJA II This kingdom was situated in the north western part of India. It is the modern Kabul. We get the following information from Mahābhārata.
(1) From
[Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 27, Verse 23] , we see that Arjuna had subdued this Kingdom.
(2) The horses which were tied to Yudhiṣṭhira's chariot were brought from Kāmboja.
[M.B. Sabhā Parva, Chapter 52, Verse 5] .
(3) The Mlecchas (a tribe of low-class people) of Kāmboja will become Kings in Kaliyuga.
[M.B. Vana Parva, Chapter 188, Verse 36] .
(4) There were Kāmbojas in Duryodhana's army.
[M.B. Udyoga Parva, Chapter 160, Verse 130] .
(5) At the time of Mahābhārata the King of Kāmboja was the brave and heroic Sudakṣiṇa.
[M.B. Udyoga Parva, Chapter 166, Verses 1-3] .
(6) In the battle between Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas, the Kāmbojas took their position in some places in the “Garuḍa Vyūha”, a phalanx in the shape of an eagle made by Bhīṣma.
[M.B. Bhīṣma parva, Chapter 56, Verse 7] .
(7) The horses of Kāmboja were beautiful in appearance and of the colour of parrots. The horses which were tied to Nakula's chariot, were of this kind.
[M.B. Droṇa Parva, Chapter 23, Verse 7] .
(8) When the horses of Kāmboja ran, their tails and ears remained motionless.
[M.B. Droṇa Parva, Chapter 36, Verse 36] .