Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c9.s7.117

c9.s7.117

Aṅga was the country to the east of Magadha and west of the chieftains who dwelt in the Rajmahal Hills (*Parvatavāsinaḥ*). It was separated from Magadha (including Modāgiri or Monghyr) by the river Champā, probably the modern Chāndan.² The Aṅga dominions, however, at one time included Magadha and probably extended to the shores of the sea. The *Vidhura Paṇḍita Jātaka*³ describes Rājagṛiha as a city of Aṅga. The *Śāntiparva* of the *Mahābhārata*⁴ refers to an Aṅga king who sacrificed on Mount Vishṇupada (probably at Gayā). The *Sabhāparva*⁵ mentions Aṅga and Vaṅga as forming one Vishaya or kingdom. The *Kathā-sarit-sāgara* says⁶ that Viṭaṅkapur, a city of the Aṅgas, was situated on the shore of the sea. The imperial glory of Aṅga is doubtless reflected in the songs of the *Aitareya Brāhmaṇa*¹ which describe the 'world-conquest' (*Samantaṁ sarvataḥ pṛithivīṁ jayan*) of one of its ancient kings in the course of which girls of aristocratic families (*āḍhya-duhitṛi*) were brought as prizes from different climes.