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Suhma kingdom was an ancient kingdom during the LateVedic period on the eastern part of theIndian subcontinent, which originated in the region ofBengal. The Capital of the kingdom wasTamralipta present dayTamluk. The kingdom included present day districts of undividedMidnapore (Tamralipta) and parts ofHoogly andHowrah ofWest Bengal.[1] This kingdom was mentioned in the epicMahabharata along with its neighbouring kingdomPrasuhma.
The founders ofAngas,Vangas,Kalingas,Pundras and Suhmas shared a common ancestry. They were all adopted sons of a king named Vali, born by a sage named Gautama Dirghatamas, who lived inMagadha close to the city ofGirivraja.[2][3]
Pandu (the father ofPandavas) after defeating theMagadhas and theVidehas ofMithila, led his army againstKashi, Suhma, andPundra, as well as by the strength and prowess of his arms spread the fame of theKurus.
Arjuna, that bull amongst the son ofPandu, at the head of all his troops, fiercely attacked the regions calledSuhma and Sumala during his military campaign to collect tribute toYudhishthira'sRajasuya.
Bhima vanquished in battle theSuhmas and thePrasuhmas. ThePandavaBhima subjugated in battle those strong and brave heroes of fierce prowess. The heroic and mighty Vasudeva, the king ofPundra and king Mahaujah who reigned in Kausika-Kachchha, and then attacked the king ofVanga. Having vanquished Samudrasena and king Chandrasena andTamralipta, and also the king of theKaivartas and the ruler of theSuhmas, as also the kings that dwelt on the sea-shore, that bull among the Bharatas then conquered allMleccha tribes. Karna also subjugated thePundras and Suhmas.
The fourthcanto of the epic poemRaghuvamsa, written byKalidasa mentions that KingRaghu ofIkshavaku Dynasty during his conquest in the East, he had defeated theSuhmas.In order to save their lives, they begged for his mercy. The then king (whose name is not mentioned in theRaghuvamsa) was ousted from his throne by King Raghu, but was later rethroned by him, when the king pleaded him and offered him with innumerable riches.[4]