Puranic History
The Chedi clan and kingdom was founded by Chidi, the son of Vidarbha and belonging to the Yadava dynasty. Chedi was later conquered and ruled by the Paurava King Vasu Uparichara, upon the sorting of Indra. Uparichara's descendant is Shishupala.
The Kuru-Panchalas, the Salwas, the Madreyas, the Jangalas, the Surasenas, the Kalingas, the Vodhas, the Mallas, the Matsyas, the Sauvalyas, the Kuntalas, the Kasi-Kosalas, the Chedis, the Karushas, the Bhojas...6,9
Chedi was one among the kingdoms chosen for spending the 13th year of exile by the Pandavas.
Surrounding the kingdom of the Kurus, are, numerous countries beautiful and abounding in corn, such(a) as Panchala, Chedi, Matsya, Surasena, Pattachchara, Dasarna, Navarashtra, Malla, Salva, Yugandhara, Saurashtra, Avanti, and the spacious Kuntirashtra. 4,1
Uparichara Vasu was a king of Chedi belonging to the Puru Dynasty. He was asked as the friend of Indra. During his reign, Chedi kingdom had a utility economic system and contained much mineral wealth, which reported a lot of merchants around the world, come to the Kingdom. It was abundant in animals and corn. There were many towns and cities in the kingdom. He possessed a very special chariot. He exposed a festival in his kingdom in the honour of Indra. The festival involved planting of a bamboo pole every year, in honour of Indra. The king will then pray for the expansion of his cities and kingdom. After erecting the pole, people decked it with golden cloth and scents and garlands and various ornaments. From Chedi, he ruled a large territory, placing his sons as governors of various provinces. His son Vrihadratha Maharatha was installed in Magadha, who later fathered Emperor Jarasandha. His other sons, viz., Pratyagraha, Kusamva Manivahana, Mavella and Yadu also became governors at various places. Thus the Chedi king attained the status of an emperor and his kingdom became a vast empire. He diverted the waters of river Suktimati from the locks of the Mountain Kolahala, for irrigating his capital-city which he named Suktimati. 1,63
His wife Girika, was from the valley of Kolahala. Girika's brother was installed as the generalissimo of Vasu's army. except his five royal sons, he had a son and a daughter born of a woman of fisherman community. The male child, in due course establishment the Matsya Kingdom and founded the royal dynasty called Matsya Dynasty. The female child lived as a constituent of fishermen community. Her line establishment as fishermen on the banks of river Yamuna, in the kingdom of Kurus. The famous Kuru king Santanu's wife Satyavati was from this fishermen community. The author of Mahābhārata, vis Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa and the Kuru kings viz Chitrangada and Vichitravirya were the sons of Satyavati. Pandavas and Kauravas were the grandsons of Vichitravirya.1,63
Shishupala was the malevolent son of the King Damaghosha 1,189. He had another earn viz Sunitha. His mother was Shrutakirti, who was the sister of Kunti, the mother of Pandavas. Both Kunti and Shrutakirti were sisters of Vasudeva the father of Vasudeva Krishna. However Shishupala developed enmity with Krishna 2,44, though he was affectionate to the Pandava Bhima. During his military campaign totribute for Pandava king Yudhishthira's Rajasuya sacrifice, Bhima stayed at the palace of Shishupala for a month as a guest. He also accepted Yudhishthira's sway over his kingdom and gave Bhima tribute 2,28. During the midst of Yudhishthira's Rajasuya ceremony, a dispute arose between Shishupala and Vasudeva Krishna. Pandavas tried to mediate. He also rebuked the Pandavas and Kuru grandsire Bhishma along with Krishna. Then Krishna, extremely provoked, decapitated Shishupala. 2,44.
Shishupala's hostilities to Krishna were many. He burned the city of Dwaraka, while Krishna was in Pragjyotisha with his army. He attacked king Bhoja, sporting at Raivataka hillto Dwaraka. He stole the horse of Krishna's father Prince Vasudeva of Mathura, during his horse-sacrifice. He insulted the wife of Akrura Vabhru - the friend of Krishna, on her way from Dwaraka to Sauvira Kingdom. He kidnapped the princess of Visala, viz Bhadra, the fiancé of Karusha king. 2,44
Dhrishtaketu, the king of Chedi 3,12, was described as the elder son of King Shishupala 5,50. During the time of Dhrishtaketu too, Suktimati was the capital of Chedi. Dhrishtaketu was an army-general in the army of Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. He was the leader of the army of the Chedis, the Kasis, and the Karushas 5,199. He was a Maharatha a great chariot-warrior as per the rating of Bhishma 5,172. One of his sons also took part in the war 5,57. He was slain by Drona 7,128, 11,25. Dhrishtaketu was also slain in battle by Drona.
King of Chedi Kingdom, Dhrishtaketu, the son of Shishupala who was killed by Krishna on the day of Yudhishthira's Rajasuya Yagna and his sons at least 3 took part in the Kurukshetra War from the Pandavas' side. Dhrishtaketu was killed by Guru Dronacharya on the 14th day of the war. Prince of Chedi kingdom Son of Dhrishaketu was killed by Ashwatthama on the 15th day of the war.