Panchala Kingdom (Mahabharata)

Panchala Kingdom
Pañcāla पञ्चाल
unknown (?~1100 BCE)–unknown (?~4th century BCE)
Panchala and other kingdoms of the late Vedic period
Capital		Ahichatra (northern), Kampilya (southern)
Religion		Vedic Hinduism Buddhism Jainism
Government		Monarchy
Historical era		Bronze Age, Iron Age
•	Established	unknown (?~1100 BCE)
•	Disestablished	unknown (?~4th century BCE)

This article is about the Mahabharata epic kingdom of Panchala. For the historical kingdom, see Panchala.

The Panchala (पञ्चाल Pañcāla) kingdom was one of the historical mahajanapadas of ancient India (c. 6th to 4th centuries BC). It was annexed into the Nanda Empire during the reign of Mahapadma Nanda.

The Mahabharata Sanskrit epics were compiled over the centuries following the end of the majahanapadas, and describe the kingdom and events associated with it in great detail. While informed by the historical kingdoms, these "epic" descriptions are largely attributed as mythological.

The Panchala kingdom (Mahabharata) extends from the Himalayas in the north; to the Charmanwati river; with the Kuru, Surasena and Matsya kingdoms to the west; and the Naimisha Forest to the east. Later, Panchala was divided into Southern Panchala ("Panchala proper", centered at Kampilya, ruled by King Drupada, the father-in-law of Pandavas); and Northern Panchala (centered at Ahichatra, ruled by Ashwathama, the son of Drona. Drona was Drupada's friend who later became his enemy). The Ganges River separated the two Panchalas.

In Mahabharata many figures were said to be natives of Panchala.

. Many other sons of Drupada (a total of 10) and other Panchala princes (like Yudhamanyu, Uttamaujas, Janamejaya etc.) were allied with the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War.

The lineage extending from King Puru, son of King Yayati to Santanu. The following passage from Mahabharata, that describes the Puru lineage of kings, shows the kinship of the Kurus and the Panchalas, both branched from the same line: "When Janamejaya wished to hear the history of kings who were descended from Puru. Vaisampayana narrated the lineage of kings in Puru’s line.".