THE KAMBOJAS:
A PRE-EMINENT AND MOST ANCIENT KASHATRYA TRIBE SINCE ANCIENT TIMES

SEE SOME DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE BELOW:


(1)Foremost and most authentic PROOF OF KAMBOJA KASHATRYAHOOD comes ancient Grammarian Panini ( 500BC).


Panini has defined 15 POWERFUL KASHATRYA JANAPADAS or KINGDOMS in his Sutra IV.1.168-175 (Ashtadhyai):


JANAPADAT-SABADAT KASHATRYADan: [ IV.1.168, Panini Ashtadhyai].


which were governed by monarchical constitution (Ekrajat=monarchies)
and has SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED KAMBOJA and 14 other pre-Paninian kingdoms as Monarchies (i.e. EKARAJAT) as contrasted to Republic (SANGHA) form of governments:

i.e. KASHATRYAD-EKARAJAT, SANGHA PRATISHEDHARTHAM [IV.1.168.1, Panini Ashtadhyai).

The 16 powerful Kashatrya kingdoms listed are the following:

Kamboja, Salveya, Gandhari, Magadha, Kalinga, Suramasa, Kosala, Ajada, Kuru, Salva, Pratyagratha, Kalakuta, Asmaka, Avanti & Kunti.


(2)ANOTHER POWERFUL PROOF OF KAMBOJA KASHATRYAHOOD COMES FROM STORY OF DIVINE SWORD OF MAHABHARATA(Refer to Mahabharata, Shantiparava Section: 12/166/64-80):


This legend of “Divine Sword” appears in Santi Parva section of Mahabharata. Bhishama stood mortally wounded by Arjuna and lay pierced with deadly arrows, in the battlefield, waiting death. Pandava son Nakula, who was the most powerful & skillful wielder of Sword in the battlefied approached Bishama and put him the following question:


“Hey Pitama, in my opinion, the Sword is the best of all weapons a warrior can safely rely. In case all other war weapons/equipment like Dhanush (Bow), Chariot etc having been damaged and the horse having killed, the sword comes in handy as his last resort for his personal protection. A skilful warrior armed with sword has the immense capability to keep at bay or outdo his enemy warrior armed with weapons like Mace, chariot & shakti etc. Pitamah I have a great curiosity to know as to who, when and under what circumstances had invented the Sword, and further who was its first Acharya.