The History and Culture of the Indian People v1.c19.s3.t2.26

v1.c19.s3.t2.26

The *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa* (III. 3.2.1, 2) mentions the term Naishidha as an epithet of Naḍa, a king of the south. The later form of the name is Naishadha. The Nishadhas, residents of the Nishadha country, were quite distinct from the Nishādas with whom they are often confounded. “Nishāda” was a general term used for a non-Aryan tribe, whereas the Nishadhas, in all probability belonged to the Aryan fold. King Nala of Nishadha is a celebrated figure in the *Mahābhārata* and the *Purāṇas*. The location of the Nishadha country is not known with certainty, though it may be assumed to be contiguous to Vidarbha.