Daradas are the inhabitants of the country along the course of the
Indus River above the
Himalaya Mountains just before it descends to India. This locality was occupied by the Daradas in the days of Strabo and Ptolemy and at the date of the
Vishnu Purana. They reside there still and are now called Durds.
The kingdom of the Daradas is identified to be the Gilgit region in Kashmir. Arjuna is said to have visited this country of Daradas during his northern military campaign to collect tribute for Yudhisthira's Rajasuya sacrifice. Many Daradas are also said to have attended the sacrifice and offered him lots of gifts. Daradas had also participated in the
Kurukshetra war fought between the
Kauravas and
Pandavas.
The
Vayu Purana,
Brahmanda Purana and
Vamana Purana mention the Daradas with the Kambojas, Chinas, Tusharas and the Bahlikas etc. The Bhuvankosha of the Puranas locates the Daradas, Kambojas, Barbaras, Bahlikas and Lampakas in the Uttarapatha division of ancient India.
As per the 'Drona Parva' of the
Mahabharata,
Krishna had conquered the Daradas along with Anga, Vanga, Magadha, Kasi, Vatsa, Garga and many others.
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