The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s2.122

c5.s2.122

Bhâratavarsha—India. India (Intu of Hiuen Tsiang, who travelled in India from 629 to 645 A.D.), is a corruption of Sindhu (q.v.) or Sapta Sindhu (Hafta Hendu of the Vendidad, I, 73). It was named after a king called Bharata (Liṅga P., Pûrva Bhâga, ch. 47; Brahma P., ch. 13), and before Bharata, it was called Himâhva-varsha (Brahmâṇḍa P., Pûrva, ch. 33, śloka 55) and Haimavata-varsha (Liṅga P., Pt. I, ch. 49). In the Pauranic period, Bhâratavarsha was bounded on the north by the Himalayas, on the south by the ocean, on the east by the country of the Kirâtas and on the west by the country of the Yavanas (Vishṇu P., II, ch. 3; Mârkaṇḍeya P., ch. 57). Bhâratavarsha represents a political conception of India, being under one king, whereas Jambudvîpa represents a geographical conception.