Intro - i will not only discuss the military career of Sahadeva but i am also going to provide details for what he did outside of combat.
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Achievements of Sahadev.
The Rajasuya was the biggest & lengthiest achievement of prince sahadeva.
Cross-reference's;
"Do they remember the mighty Sahadeva, the son of Madri, who in Dantakura conquered the Kalingas, shooting arrows by both the left and right hand?"
Logic - maybe dantakura was the capital town of kalinga.
Accolade;
"He who vanquished in battle the warriors of Kasi, Anga, and Kalinga with that Sahadeva will the Pandavas encounter you in battle. He, who in energy hath for his equals only four men on earth. Aswatthaman and Dhrishtaketu and Rukmi and Pradyumna with that Sahadeva, youngest in years, that hero among men, that gladdener of Madri's heart, with him will you have a destructive battle?"
Logic - most likely those 3 nations fought sahadev during the rajasuya cause i cant see a different incident where they might have had a conflict with him.
Detailed/Elaborated rajasuya campaign.
Quote:
"Strong in strength, that mighty prince of the Kuru race, vanquishing completely at the outset the Surasenas, brought the king of Matsya under his sway."
Logic - matsya's king is virata and surasena was a tribe that was ruled either by krishna's paternal grandfather (Surasena is father to vasudeva and biological father of kunti) or a different king (since kamsa's brother was stated as a former monarch of the surasena tribe).
Sahadeva wins a additional 5 territory's.
[start]
And the hero then, defeating Dantavakra, the mighty king of the Adhirajas and making him pay tribute, re-established him on his throne. The prince then brought under his sway Sukumara and then king Sumitra, and he next vanquished the other Matsyas and then the Patacharas.
Logic - this proves their existed another tribe of matsyas. Maybe virata did not command authority over his entire family. So it could be controlled by a brother of virata or a elder son of virata.
Part 3.
"Endued with great intelligence, the Kuru warrior then conquered soon enough the country of the Nishadas and also the high hill called Gosringa, and that lord of earth called Srenimat. And subjugating next the country called Navarashtra, the hero marched against Kuntibhoja, who with great willingness accepted the sway of the conquering hero. And marching thence to the banks of the Charmanwati, the Kuru warrior met the son of king Jamvaka, who had, on account of old hostilities, been defeated before by Vasudeva. O Bharata, the son of Jamvaka gave battle to Sahadeva. And Sahadeva defeating the prince marched towards the south."
Logic - navarasthra most likely means 9 countries, i think it was nine small states merged into a single nation. Besides kuntibhoja none of the opponents yielded to sahadev without resisting him. if navarasthra is counted as a single country then sahadeva conquered another 5 kingdoms here but if it counts as nine then he won 13 kingdoms.
Riverbank charman wati;
Logic - according to wikipedia king jamvaka's son is the lower neighbhor of king droopad, so his land was close to kampilya. And this also is considered the location where karna was abandoned by Kunti yet sahadeva conquered that place.
Part 4;
The mighty warrior then vanquished the Sekas and others, and exacted tributes from them and also various kinds of gems and wealth. Allying himself with the vanquished tribes the prince then marched towards the countries that lay on the banks of the Narmada. And defeating there in battle the two heroic kings of Avanti, called Vinda and Anuvinda, supported by a mighty host, the mighty son of the twin gods exacted much wealth from them.
logic - he defeated 2 community's here before attacking the narmada river valley (where avanti was ruling instead of haihaya). One tribe was seka the other victim (tribe that lost) was not named. But sahadeva proved his intelligence as he made the army he defeated join his own army and help him fight a future opponent.
Part 5;
"After this the hero marched towards the town of Bhojakata, and there, O king of unfading glory, a fierce encounter took place between him and the king of that city for two whole days. But the son of Madri, vanquishing the invincible Bhismaka, then defeated in battle the king of Kosala and the ruler of the territories lying on the banks of the Venwa, as also the Kantarakas and the kings of the eastern Kosalas."
Note; bhishmaka was the father of Rukmini and the king of kosala is either descended from Raam or Bharat. The term 'kings' indicates more than one, so its fair to assume that their were 2 kings ruling the eastern kosala tribe, so sahadeva altogether defeated 6 monarchs. This also showed his endurance that he can fight non stop for two days.
Part 6.
"The hero then defeating both the Natakeyas and the Heramvaks in battle, and subjugating the country of Marudha, reduced Munjagrama by sheer strength. And the son of Pandu then vanquished the mighty monarchs of the Nachinas and the Arvukas and the various forest king of that part of the country. Endued with great strength the hero then reduced to subjection king Vatadhipa. And defeating in battle the Pulindas, the hero then marched southward."
Logic - possibly vatadhipa was the king of pulinda. Including him sahadeva has defeated at minimum 9 opponents here.
Parshuram's disciple Bhandya:
"And the younger brother of Nakula then fought for one whole day with the king of Pandrya. The long-armed hero having vanquished that monarch marched further to the south."
Logic - he lost here but is capable of fighting well against Ashwathama during day 16.
Vanara Yudh;
He beheld the celebrated caves of Kishkindhya and in that region fought for seven days with the monkey-kings Mainda and Dwivida. Those illustrious kings however, without being tired an the encounter, were gratified with Sahadeva. And joyfully addressing the Kuru prince, they said "O tiger among the sons of Pandu, go hence, taking with the tribute from us all. Let the mission of the king Yudhishthira the just possessed of great intelligence, be accomplished without hindrance." And taking jewels and gems from them all, the hero marched towards the city of Mahishmati, and there that bull of men did battle with king Nila.
Logic - the winner was obviously Sahadeva its not a draw or tie. What is impressive is that it lasted for 7 days completely.
Both vanara co rulers achieved much in ramayana:
"Dvivida, with a mountain-peak, struck down Narantaka, the one among them who was rushing upon quickly and killing the monkeys."
"The valiant Dvivida, after splitting open shonitaksha's face with his claws, threw him down on the floor by his strength and crushed him down."
"Mainda, the foremost of monkeys, was enraged and pressed Yupaksha with his arms. Yupaksha fell down dead on the ground."
Logic - victory against them indicates he could thrash raamduta hanumaan.
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Final I:
"The long-armed hero then brought the king of Tripura of immeasurable energy under his sway. And next turning his forces against the Paurava kingdom, he vanquished and reduced to subjection the monarch thereof. And the prince, after this, with great efforts brought Akriti, the king of Saurashtra and preceptor of the Kausikas under his sway. The virtuous prince, while staying in the kingdom of Saurashtra sent an ambassador unto king Rukmin of Bhishmaka within the territories of Bhojakata, who, rich in possessions and intelligence, was the friend of Indra himself. And the monarch along with his son, remembering their relationship with Krishna, cheerfully accepted, O king, the sway of the son of Pandu. And the master of battle then, having exacted jewels and wealth from king Rukmin, marched further to the south. And, endued with great energy and great strength, the hero then, reduced to subjection, Surparaka and Talakata, and the Dandakas also."
Logic - since viswagaswa (paurav king) was defeated by arjuna in the northern digvijay it makes sense that the 2nd paurav king here was venudari. But here in all sahadeva won 6 abodes cause akriti was stated to be subjugated after immense effort, i assume that means battle.
Final II:
"The Kuru warrior then vanquished and brought under his subjection numberless kings of the Mlechchha tribe living on the sea coast, and the Nishadas and the cannibals and even the Karnapravarnas, and those tribes also called the Kalamukhas who were a cross between human beings and Rakshasas, and the whole of the Cole mountains, and also Surabhipatna, and the island called the Copper island, and the mountain called Ramaka."
Logic - Because kalamukhas were basically hybrids it would make sense for Ghatotkaca to be classified as one instead of an asuric/rakshasa tribesman. Because he conquered an island (named copper) its presumed that Sahadeva probably had expertise when it came to naval warfare. For math about 8 battles were won here excluding the unknown amount of mleccha rulers he faced.
Final III
"The high-souled warrior, having brought under subjection king Timingila, conquered a wild tribe known by the name of the Kerakas who were men with one leg. The son of Pandu also conquered the town of Sanjayanti and the country of the Pashandas and the Karahatakas by means of his messengers alone, and made all of them pay tributes to him."
"The hero brought under his subjection and exacted tributes from the Paundrayas and the Dravidas along with the Udrakeralas and the Andhras and the Talavanas, the Kalingas and the Ushtrakarnikas, and also the delightful city of Atavi and that of the Yavanas."
Logic - because pashanda, karahataka & sanjayanti were won by messengers (assuming negotiation/threat's) i am not counting them like i also refused to count rukmi as one of the subdued enemies. But adding the fabled keraka's he won 11 battles altogether in this quote. The only problem i have is that yavanas being in south india is illogical (only IF yavanas meant greek) because greeks can only enter from the north not south.
Other:
Sahadeva's battle with Nila is one he would have lost if Agni Dev did not accept his plea to abandon Nila so i will not count it as a successful conquest of his. Instead i will claim that Nila was a unconquered monarch. I also refuse to add the conquest of lanka (ruled by vibeeshan) cause theirs either no battle or no elaboration done regarding it.
Counting his list of victim's (enemies he defeated or battles he won).
If navarasthra was one battle (not 9) then his grandtotal is 56.
If navarasthra was nine seperate battles then his grandtotal is 64.
So it should be confirmed that he is more experienced than both parshuram & bhishma. At minimum 56 battles in one digvijay that is more than arjuna's northern digvijay battle.
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Protected a yagya;
[Quote] "Dhananjaya, Bhima, Nakula, Sahadeva and Dharma’s son, the king Yudhishthira destroyed all who went to that sacrificial ground where took place the martial festivity, consisting of diverse weapons, of those heroes." https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/harivamsha-purana-dutt/d/doc485627.html
Logic - of course being a group effort you cant really credit him for it.
In the kurukshetra war he did not achieve much apart from killing Uluka/Sakuni but he did beat Duryodhan in a fair duel once.
"The high-souled Sahadeva, however, quickly approaching their and invoking without loss of time a celestial weapon, pierced Duryodhana with twenty arrows. Thus pierced by Sahadeva, the Kuru king, covered with blood, looked beautiful, like a huge elephant of split temples. Beholding thy son deeply pierced with many arrows of great energy, that foremost of car-warriors, the son of Radha, filled with rage, rushed to that spot."
He defeated duhsasana twice.
15th day
Quote;
"Sahadeva pierced those steeds with keen shafts. Afflicted with those shafts, they quickly ran away, careering hither and thither. For catching hold of the reins, he once laid aside his bow, and then he took up his bow for using it, lying aside the reins. During those opportunities the son of Madri covered him with arrows. Then Karna, desirous of rescuing thy son, rushed to that spot."
16th day
Sahadeva then, O monarch, filled with rage, fixed on his bow-string a terrible shaft resembling the Destroyer himself and forcibly drawing the bow, he sped that shaft at thy son. Piercing with great speed through his strong armour and body, that shaft entered the Earth, O king, like a snake penetrating into an ant-hill. Then thy son, that great car-warrior, swooned away, O king. Beholding him deprived of his senses, his driver quickly took away the car, himself forcibly struck all the while with keen arrows. Having vanquished the Kuru warrior thus, the son of Pandu, beholding Duryodhana's division, began to crush it on all sides."
Fought kritvarman's brothers;
"Hridika's son, Kritavarman, with three of his uterine brothers, appeared on the scene and attempted to oppose Dhrishtadyumna. Those bulls among men, however the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva following in the wake of Dhrishtadyumna who was thus proceeding like a blazing fire towards Drona, began to protect him. Then, all those great car-warriors, endued with might and excited with rage, began to strike one another, making death their goal. Of pure souls and pure conduct, O king, and keeping heaven in view, they fought according to righteous methods, desirous of vanquishing one another. Of stainless lineage and stainless acts, and endued with great intelligence, those rulers of men, keeping heaven in view, fought fair battles with another. There was nothing unfair in that fight and no weapon was used that was regarded as unfair."
Logic - cause these nameless brothers were not mentioned after this day its reasonable to guess that they either died here or they abandoned the war entirely once drona died (because their was a huge retreat before ashwathama returned).
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Gandharv Yudh:
"The mighty sons of Madri also, battling with vigour, encountered hundreds of Gandharvas, O king, and slaughtered them all. And as Gandharvas were being thus slaughtered by the mighty warriors with their celestial weapons, they rose up to the skies, taking with them the sons of Dhritarashtra."
Droupadi-harana.
quote I;
"Sahadeva from his chariot began to fell with his iron shafts, many warriors fighting on elephants, like birds dropped from the boughs of a tree."
quote II;
"Yudhishthira the just, seeing Draupadi with Dhaumya walking before, caused her to be taken up on a chariot by the heroic Sahadeva, the son of Madri."
Logic - maybe droupadi felt safest with sahadev not bhima.
Virat Parva;
[quote]
"And powerful Sahadeva also, commanded by Yudhishthira, slew three hundred brave warriors."
Logic - besides that their exist's no other achievement he had in this parva.
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The personality of Sahadeva shined more than most characters, in the randomest incidents he would gain importance from Souti/Vaisampayan.
[starT]
Sahadeva, O king, jumping down from his own car, addressed Satyaki, thus held fast by the strong arms of Bhima, in these words "O tiger among men, O thou of Madhu's race, we have no friends dearer to us than the Andhakas, the Vrishnis and the Panchalas. So also the Andhakas and the Vrishnis, particularly Krishna, cannot have any friends dearer than ourselves. The Panchalas, also, O thou of Vrishni's race, even if they search the whole world to the confines of the sea, have no friends dearer to them than the Pandavas and the Vrishnis. Thou art even such a friend to this prince; and he also is a similar friend to thee. Ye all are to us even as we are to you."
"Acquainted as thou art with all duties, remembering now the duties thou owest to friends, restrain this wrath of thine, that has the prince of the Panchalas for its object. Be calm, O foremost one of Sini's race! Forgive the son of Prishata, and let Prishata's son also forgive thee. Ourselves also will practise forgiveness. What is there that is better than forgiveness?" While the scion of Sini, O sire, was thus being pacified by Sahadeva.
Logic - It was not krishna or yudisther or bheem that calmed satyaki down rather it is Sahadeva who did this noble act.
As a husband he seems to care about Droupadi the most;
Sahadeva said "What hath been said by the king is, indeed, eternal virtue, but thou, O chastiser of foes, shouldst act, in such a way that war may certainly happen. Even if the Kauravas express their desire for peace with the Pandavas, still, O thou of Dasarha's race, provoke thou a war with them. Having seen, O Krishna, the princess of Panchala brought in that plight into the midst of the assembly, how can my wrath be appeased without the slaughter of Suyodhana. If, O Krishna, Bhima and Arjuna and king Yudhishthira the just are disposed to be virtuous, abandoning virtue I desire an encounter with Duryodhana in battle."
Logic - each pandava including arjuna/bheem favored peace with kauravas but sahadeva did not favor peace cause he wanted justice for his wife.
Jatasura Vadh
{quote}
Sahadeva addressed Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, saying "What can be more meritorious for a Kshatriya than to fall in fight, or defeat a foe? O repressor of foes, we will fight and either this one will slay us, or we shall slay him, O mighty-armed one. Verily this is the place and time. O king. And, O thou of unfailing prowess, the time hath come for the display of our Kshatriya virtue. It behoveth us to attain heaven either by gaining victory or being slain. If the sun sets to-day, the Rakshasa living yet, O Bharata, I will not any more say that I am a Kshatriya. Ho! Ho! Rakshasa. say! I am Pandu's son, Sahadeva. Either, after having killed me, carry off this lady, or being slain, lie senseless here."
Logic - yudisther told him to run but he refused, he was the only brother that had the necessary courage to disobey yudisther.
His advice to Yudhishtir;
[quote]
"Thou hadst heard of the numerous faults and the great sinfulness of dice that Sahadeva spoke about."
Basic's - the time he said it to his brother is not made clear, only theories exist, possibly vana parva or sabha parva were the time periods where he made these statements.
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