The Dasharajna War is described in Rigveda (Book 7, Hymns 18, 33, and 83.4–8). It is one of the earliest known recorded wars in Indian history.
The battle took place on the banks of the Parushni River, believed to be the modern Ravi River in Punjab.
The main protagonist of the war was King Sudas of the Bharata tribe, who was attacked by a confederation of ten tribes.
The opposing alliance consisted of ten tribes, including Purus, Druhyus, Yadus, Turvasas, Anus, Alinas, Bhalanas, Pakthas, Sivas, and Visanins.
This war was fought not to control the land but to control the resources especially cattle resource.
The war was not just a religious or territorial conflict but also a political struggle for dominance among Vedic tribes in the Saptasindhu (Punjab) region.
After Sudas's victory, the Bharata tribe eventually merged with the Purus, forming the Kuru clan, which played a central role in later Vedic history and the Mahabharata.
Despite being outnumbered, Sudas emerged victorious, which led to the rise of the Bharatas as a dominant power in Vedic India.
Estimated Period: Around c. 1500 BCE (based on the early Vedic period)