Swaveda
Indian history, plainly written.
A short daily post on Indian history — archaeology, genetics, historical linguistics, and the texts. Plus side-by-side translations of public-domain primary works. Plain language; no chest-thumping in either direction.
Plain language
Aimed at any curious reader, not the seminar room. Sanskrit / Pali / Tamil terms get a gloss on first use.
Tradition ≠ evidence
“The Mahabharata describes…” and “the Mahabharata war happened in…” are different sentences, and we don’t silently merge them.
Readers can edit
Sign in to send a correction or addition. If it holds up, it changes the article and credits you. If it’s contested, it’s preserved as a reader note.
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Kurukshetra: Excavations vs. the Mahabharata — What the Ground Actually Shows
The Mahabharata describes Kurukshetra as the site of an ancient war. Archaeologists have excavated there for decades. What does the evidence actually show?
Dr. Anil Patel · Aug 27, 2026
Burzahom's Pit Dwellings and Coarse Grey Ware: What Kashmir's Neolithic Farmers Left Behind
Neolithic pit houses in Kashmir reveal how early farmers lived below ground. Distinctive pottery, tools, and hearths show adaptation to harsh climate and seasonal settlement.
Rohan Bhattacharya · Aug 27, 2026
Indus Valley Board Games: What Tokens and Dice Reveal About Recreation and Rules
Archaeologists have found tokens, dice, and carved gaming boards at Harappan sites. What do these objects tell us about leisure, strategy, and daily life in the ancient Indus cities?
Rohan Bhattacharya · Aug 27, 2026
Carnelian Beads of Sanur: Craft Specialists and Trade in Iron Age South India
Iron Age artisans in southern India shaped carnelian beads with precision. Microscopic wear patterns reveal how they worked, and where the carnelian came from.
Rohan Bhattacharya · Aug 27, 2026
The Etymology of Endurance: What the Pali 'Adhivāsana' Reveals About Early Buddhist Non-Retaliation
A philological analysis of the compound adhivāsanasīla in the Sabbāsava Sutta, revealing how early Buddhist texts framed the patient endurance of physical pain and verbal abuse without retaliation.
Meera Iyer · Aug 27, 2026
Recent translations
All texts →Sanskrit
Arthashastra
Chapter 150 · Book 15, Chapter 1: Paragraphical Divisions of This Treatise
Updated Jul 26, 2026
Sanskrit
Arthashastra
Chapter 149 · Book 14, Chapter 4: Remedies against the Injuries of One's Own Army
Updated Jul 26, 2026
Sanskrit
Arthashastra
Chapter 148 · Book 14, Chapter 3: The Application of Medicines and Mantras
Updated Jul 26, 2026
A note on tone
Swaveda is curious, careful, and dry. There’s no civilizational chest-thumping in either direction here — no “Vedic India invented everything,” no “everything came from outside.” If we get something wrong, tell us. We fix it visibly, with a dated note.