ŚŪRASENA I A King of Yaduvaṁśa.
1)
General. Śūrasena's kingdom was Mathurāpurī. This country was originally ruled by Kings of the Solar dynasty.
[Devī Bhāgavata, 4th Skandha] explains how the Yādava Kings came to rule over Mathurā. There was a region called Madhuvanam in the Kālindī river valley. Madhu, the Asura, who lived in Madhuvana had a son named Lavaṇa. Lavaṇa who was a tyrant and an oppressor of the gods, was killed by Śatrughna who established his rule there. In course of time, the place came to be known as “Madhurā”. After Śatrughna's time his two sons ruled over the country. Thus the Solar dynasty came to an end and Mathurā purī came under the rule of Yadus. The first King of Yaduvaṁśa was Śūrasena. Vasudeva, father of Śrī Kṛṣṇa was the son of this Śūrasena. After the death of his father, since Vasudeva took up the occupation of tending cows, Ugrasena became King there. Kaṁsa was the son of this Ugrasena. 2.
Other details. (i) Śūrasena's daughter Kuntī was adopted and brought up by the king named Kuntibhoja.
[M.B. Ādi Parva, Refer Chapters 67, 109 and 110] .
(ii) Devamīḍha, father of Śūrasena had another name, “Citraratha”.
[M.B. Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 147, Verse 29] .
ŚŪRASENA II A son of Kārttavīrya. In
[Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapter 86] , it is mentioned that this Śūrasena killed Jamadagni. (See under Śūra II)
ŚŪRASENA III “Śūrasena was the old name for the region now known as Mathurāmaṇḍala or Vrajamaṇḍala. The natives of this place were called “Śūrasenas”. The following pieces of information are given about the Śūrasenas in the Mahābhārata:--
(i) The Śūrasenas who were afraid of Jarāsandha, fled to the southern lands.
[M.B. Sabhā Parva, Chapter 14, Verse 26] .
(ii) In the course of his southern campaign, Sahadeva conquered the Śūrasenas.
[M.B. Sabhā Parva, Chapter 31, Verse 1] .
(iii) The Śūrasenas offered presents at Yudhiṣṭhira's Rājasūya.
[M.B. Sabhā Parva, Chapter 52, Verse 13] .
(iv) It was between the two countries, South Yakṛllomam and Śūrasenam that the Pāṇḍavas travelled from the land of Pāñcāla to Matsyadeśa.
[M.B. Virāṭa Parva Chapter 5, Verse 4] .
(v) Śūrasenas were the body-guards of Bhīṣma during the Bhārata Yuddha.
[M.B. Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 18, Verse 12] .
(vi) The Śūrasena forces once stopped Arjuna on the way.
[M.B. Droṇa Parva, Chapter 91, Verse 37] .
(vii) Śūrasena attacked Arjuna and Sātyaki in Bhārata battle.
[M.B. Droṇa Parva, Chapter 141, Verse 9] .
(viii) Yudhiṣṭhira soaked the earth with blood by killing the Śūrasenas at Kurukṣetra.
[M.B. Droṇa Parva Chapter 157, Verse 29] .
(ix) Bhīmasena butchered the Kṣatriyas of Śūrasena by hundreds.
[M.B. Droṇa Parva, Chapter 169, Verse 4] .
(x) Kṛpācārya, Kṛtavarmā and Śakuni from the Pāṇḍava side fought against the Śūrasenas.
[M.B. Karṇa Parva, Chapter 47, Verse 16] .
ŚŪRASENA IV A king who fought against the Pāṇḍavas from the Kaurava side in the Bhārata Yuddha. He stood by Duryodhana in the “Krauñcavyūha” formed by Bhīṣma.
[M.B. Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 75 Verse 18] .
ŚŪRASENA V A king of the Somavaṁśa of Pratiṣṭhānapura. Śūrasena, who was childless, tried to propitiate the gods in many ways to obtain a son. In the end he got a son in the form of a serpent. But to keep it a secret, he performed the usual ceremonies connected with his son's Upanayana, marriage etc. in the usual manner. At last by the mercy of Gautamīdevī Śūrasena's son obtained human form.
[Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, 111] .