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60 T HEMES IN INDIAN H ISTORY Source 5 Some of the Satavahana rulers were polygynous A mother’s advice (that is, had more than one wife). An examination of the names of women who married Satavahana rulers indicates that many of them had names derived from The Mahabharata describeshow, gotras such as Gotama and Vasistha, their father’s whenwarbetweentheKauravas and the Pandavas became gotras. They evidently retained these names instead almost inevitable, Gandhari of adopting names derived from their husband’s gotra made one last appeal to her name as they were required to do according to the eldest son Duryodhana: Brahmanical rules. What is also apparent is that some of these women belonged to the same gotra. As By making peace you honour your father and me, as well is obvious, this ran counter to the ideal of exogamy recommended in the Brahmanical texts. In fact, it as your well-wishers … it is exemplified an alternative practice, that of endogamy the wise man in control of his or marriage within the kin group, which was (and senses who guards his kingdom. Greed and anger is) prevalent amongst several communities in south drag a man away from his India. Such marriages amongst kinfolk (such as profits; by defeating these cousins) ensured a close-knit community. It is likely that there were variations in other parts two enemies a king conquers of the subcontinent as well, but as yet it has not the earth … You will happily enjoy the earth, my son, been possible to reconstruct specific details. along with the wise and 2.5 Were mothers important? heroic Pandavas … There is no good in a war, no law We have seen that Satavahana rulers were identified through metronymics (names derived from that of dharma ) and profitartha), the mother). Although this may suggest that mothers let alone happiness; nor is were important, we need to be cautious before we there (necessarily) victory in the end – don’t set your mind arrive at any conclusion. In the case of the on war … Satavahanas we know that succession to the throne was generally patrilineal. Duryodhana did not listen to this advice and fought and lost the war. ➲ Does this passage give you an idea about the way in which mothers were viewed in early Indian societies? ➲ Discuss... Fig. 3.4 How are children named A battle scene today? Are these ways of naming similar to or different This is amongst the earliest sculptural depictions of a from those described in this scene from the Mahabharata, a terracotta sculpture from section? the walls of a temple in Ahichchhatra (Uttar Pradesh), c. fifth centuCE. Reprint 2026-27