The Geography of the Puranas c8.238

c8.238

The ‘country between the great mountains Kṛṣṇa and Pāṇḍura’ is described in the above statement as ‘consisting of one smooth stone stretching from one end to the other.’ The basin of the lower Surkhan is a desolate waste containing large patches of smooth clay-encrusted land. The flood water of the Surkhan or other minor streams during the occasional heavy rains accumulates in the depressions, but soon evaporates, leaving bare smooth clayey surfaces devoid of all vegetation. However, in areas where the volume of accumulated water is considerable and does not evaporate altogether lakes are formed offering ideal conditions for the growth of lotuses. Anant Sadana appears to have been located somewhere near modern Termez.