Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c18.s1.17

c18.s1.17

No connected or detailed account of the Śaka potentates of Kipin is possible. Śakas are mentioned along with the Yavanas in the *Rāmāyaṇa*,⁵ the *Mahābhārata*,⁶ the *Manusaṁhitā*⁷ and the *Mahābhāshya*.⁸ The *Harivaṁśa*⁹ informs us that they shaved one-half of their heads. The Jaina work *Kālakāchārya-kathānaka* states that their kings were called Sāhi.¹⁰ Some of these 'Sāhis' are said to have been induced by a Jaina teacher to proceed to Suraṭṭha (Surāsḥṭra) Vishaya (country) and Ujjain in Hindukadeśa (India) where they overthrew some local chiefs and ruled for four years till they were themselves ousted by the founder of the era of 58 B.C.