Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c29.33

c29.33

From Karūṣa were descended the numerous kṣatriya clans of the Kārūṣas, who were determined fighters.¹⁴ They occupied the Karūṣa country, the region round the modern Rewa and eastwards to the R. Sone.¹ From Dhṛṣṭa² came a number of clans called Dhārṣṭakas, who were reckoned kṣatriyas.³ Nothing further is said about them except that the Śiva says they occupied the Balhīka country,⁴ which may mean Balkh, but was more probably the Vāhlīka country in the Panjab.⁵ About Nariṣyanta’s offspring there is much confusion. Some Puranas say they were the Śakas.⁶ If so, they lay outside India. The late Bhāgavata gives a list of his descendants, and says they developed into the Āgniveśyāyana brahmans;⁷ but this, if true, more probably refers to Nariṣyanta, king of the Vaiśāla dynasty.⁸ Pṛṣadhra, it is said, became a śūdra, because he killed his guru’s cow and was cursed⁹: and two Puranas say the guru was Cyavana.¹⁰ Nābhāga¹¹ and his son Ambarīṣa (p. 98) probably reigned on the R. Jumna,¹² but their line played no part in traditional history. Nābhānediṣṭha’s line reigned in the country of Vaiśālī (p. 96);¹³ and Śaryāti, who is called Śaryāta in brahmanical books,¹ founded the dynasty of Ānarta (p. 97).