Charmanvati
Charmanvati, also known as Charmanyavati, is the river mentioned in the Mahabharata. It is thought to be the ancient name for the Chambal river, a name linked to leather drying on its banks.
In the epic, Charmanyavati is said to have formed from the blood of animals sacrificed by the Aryan king Rantideva. It marked the southern boundary of the Panchala kingdom, with King Drupada ruling the southern Panchalas up to its banks. Rantideva is described as performing animal sacrifices on its shores.
A famous episode tells how Kunti left her newborn Karna in a basket, which floated from the river Aswa to the Charmanvati, then to the Yamuna, and onward to the Ganges, finally reaching Champapuri, the capital of Anga.
Later, the Kuru prince Sahadeva reached the Charmanvati’s banks and met the son of King Jamvaka, who had previously been defeated by Krishna. They fought, and Sahadeva defeated him before continuing south.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 10:16 (CET).