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YAVANA 1) General. There are many references to Yavanas and the land of Yavanas in the Purāṇas. There is a statement in [Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 85, Verse 34] , that the Yavana rase takes its source from Turvasu, the son of Yayāti. There is another version in [Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 174, Verse 36] , that Yavanas were born from the womb and the sides of Nandinī. 2) Other details. (i) Arjuna's brother Sahadeva once conquered the Yavana land. [M.B. Sabhā Parva, Chapter 31, Verse 73] . (ii) [Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 32, Verse 17] , mentions that on another occasion, Nakula defeated the Yavanas. (iii) According to [Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 188, Verse 35] , the world will be filled with Yavanas and other Mleccha (low class) kings. (iv) In the course of his conquests, Karṇa once subdued the Yavanas. [M.B. Vana Parva, Chapter 254, Verse 8] . (v) [Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 19, Verse 21] , mentions that king Sudakṣiṇa of Kāmboja approached Duryodhana with an “Akṣauhiṇī” along with the Yavanas, to take part in Bhārata Yuddha. (vi) [Mahābhārata, Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 9, Verse 65] states that at the time of Mahābhārata, Yavana land was part of India. (vii) Originally Yavanas were Kṣatriyas. But they became Śūdras by the curse of Brāhmaṇas. [M.B. Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 18] . (viii) Once there was a duel between a Yavana king and Mucukunda. (For further details, see under Mucukunda).
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