How was West Bengal, Bangladesh - During Mahabharata Period? Who were from these places?

Deergathamas was an ancient sage in the RgVeda.
Bali was the son of Sutapas and Presni.
King Homa (father of Sutapas) raised him and Bali succeeded his grandfather.
He ruled eastern side of the Bharatkhand (Today's West Bengal, Bangladesh, Odisha).

He married Sudeshna. Bali and Sudeshna had no sons.
He requested the sage, Dirghatamas, to bless him with sons.
The sage is said to have begotten five sons.

The princes were named Anga, Vanga, Suhma and Pundra, Kalinga (Odisha), 

Anga Desa, Vanga Desa are part of today's West Bengal, INDIA.
Paundraka Desa, Suhma Desa are part of Today's Bangladesh (Seperated from INDIA as Islamic Country)



Anga Desa is the West Side of West Bengal.
Vanga Desa is the East Side of West Bengal and West Side of Bangladesh.

Under the orders of Duryodhana and his evil uncle and mentor Shakuni, the architect "Purochana" was employed in the building of Lakshagraha in the forest of Varnavrat (Today Barnava village, UP) in a plot to kill the Pandavas along with their mother Kunti.
Pandavas escaped this death trap with the hint given by Vidura (Prime Minister of Sudra community).

Once while going from place to place, they reached a quiet village named Ekachakra in West Bengal.
There Pandavas and Mother Kunti Devi, stayed in the house of a Brahmin villager who had graciously provided shelter to the Pandavas.

The demon "Bakasura" lived near the city of Ekachakra, and forced the king to send him weekly a large quantity of provisions, which he devoured, and not only the provisions, but the men who carried them.

Under the directions of Kunti, her son Bhima was sent to Bakasura for his food. A fierce battle erupted between the two and finally, Bhima killed Bakasura

Magadha Desa (Today's Bihar) was ruled by Jarasandha. Jarasandha born in Tata Nagar, Jamshedpur.

Along with Magadha, he also captured Anga Desa during his time.

He was a friend to Duryodhana.  When Duryodhana made friendship with Karna, Jarasandha agreed to give his conquered "Anga Desa" to Karna.  Duryodhana made Karna as King of Anga Desa.

All the kings of Anga, Vanga, Suhma, Paundra, Magadha participated in Rajasuya Yagam conducted by Yudhistra.

Yudhistra gave the Locker Keys to Karna who is known for his Charity to spend as much as he want to invite the Guest and serve Foods for everyone who come to Raja Suya Yagya.

World talks about Karna on his Charity.  Here, Yudhistra shows that he is more wiser than Karna. He gave his Locker Keys and opened his entire Kingdom treasury to Karna and asked him freely spend the Golds to donate and give food for everyone in the RajaSuya.
Such is the Greatness of Yudhistra.

Paundraka was the king of Paundra Kingdom.

He had enmity with Vasudeva Krishna. He imitated the attire of Krishna and proclaimed himself as "Vasudeva Krishna, the Lord".

SriKrishna waited till Paundraka had cheated 100 kings by pretending as the Lord.

Karna who was the King of Anga Desa, captured Western side of Vanga Desa.
Paundraka Vasudeva then captured Eastern Side of Vanga Desa.
He was an ally of Jarasandha, the king of Magadha.

To conquer all Kingdoms, Bhima entered Paundra Kingdom and defeated him in the Battle.  He took his Counch named "Paundra" with him.
Bhima used this Paundraka Counch in the Mahabharat Battlefield to announce his readiness to fight.

Paundraka Vasudeva who got defeated, participated in the RajaSuya as well.

One day, Paundraka Vasudeva wrote a letter to Sri Krishna, in Dwaraka and invited him for a war with him.  He wanted to prove the world, that He is the Supreme Lord but not Sri Krishna.

Sri Krishna accepted his invite and came to the battlefield in Paundra Kingdom. 

Paundraka Vasudeva had the same attire of Sri Krishna and even had Artificial Blue shades painted all over his Body.

Sri Krishna himself could not control his smile and said "How a wife is living with such a person like you.? Kudos to her !"

Paundraka Vasudeva didn't understood and asked Srikrishna to fight with him. Paundraka Vasudeva was supported by King of Kasi as well.

Sri Krishna decided to end his story.
Krishna attacked King of Kasi and beheaded Paundraka with his sudarshana chakra in the battlefield.

Even though Paundraka was killed even before the Mahabharat War, his entire Army (West Bengal) stood Behind Duryodhana and stood against Dharma.

After the fall of Bhisma and Drona in the battlefield, Karna, King of Anga Desa became the Army Chief of Kauravas.

Shalya was the king of Madra Desa (Punjab in Pakistan region).
Shalya, a powerful Spear fighter and he felt cheated by Duryodhana.
Shalya was tricked by Duryodhana, who arranged a huge feast for Shalya and his men, entertaining him for hours.
Duryodhana reveals the treachery, Shalya is astounded but is compelled to grant a boon due to the hospitality.
Unable to turn down Duryodhana's request to join the Kauravas. Shalya was asked to serve as Karna's charioteer.

During 16th and 17th day war, both of them (Karna and Shalya) had so many arguments to pull down each other.

Shalya continuously praised the Pandava prince and citing Karna's shortcomings.

On the 16th day, Shalya constantly insulted Karna, by reminding him of his previous defeats at the hands of Arjuna, during various occasions and also during the slaying of Jayadrath.

Karna reminded him of an incident happened at the Courtyard of King Dhritharashtra.
One day, Vedic Brahmins came to Hastinapur, and requested a land to do Yagya.
Shalya was present on that day.
Dhritharashtra asked Shalya, King of Madra to provide all support for the Vedic brahmins to do Yagya.
During that time itself, people of this Madra Kingdom (Punjab in Pakistan) was full of Vahlika.

"Vahlika" are those people who born in Hindu Family (Sanathana Dharma Family), but do not follow any of the Principle Guidelines suggested by Vedic Dharma.



During those period, most of the people in this Madra kingdom behaved like Vahlikas.  

Vedic Brahmins Politely denied Shalya's Support and said,
"We don't want to get support from Vahlikas directly or even through the King Of Madra whose people are mostly Vahlikas to do Yagya which is a Vedic Ritual".

Karna reminded this incident to Shalya and insulted Shalya that "You are the King of those Vahlika, right?".

If a True follower of Sanathana Dharma was criticized as "Vahlika", it is considered as a great insult.
Shalya felt insulted by Karna.  

On 17th Day, when Karna's chariot-wheel gets stuck in the mud, Shalya decided to leave him alone, during the epic fight with Arjuna.
In the end, Arjuna killed Karna with the Anjalika Weapon

After the end of Mahabharat War, Arjuna went again to Paundraka Kingdom and defeated the rest of enemies and annexed the whole Kingdom under the Supreme Ruler "Yudhistra" from Indraprastha, (Delhi).


Interested to Read More? Click Here -> Want to Understand What is Varna? What is Caste (Jati)? How it helped INDIA? How it grown?