Tribes in Ancient India c14.5

c14.5

Zimmer thinks that the Uśīnaras earlier lived farther to the north-west. This theory is based on the fact that the *Anukramaṇī* of the *Ṛgveda* ascribes one hymn (X, 179) to Śivi Auśīnara; and that the Śivis were known to Alexander the Great’s followers as the Siboi, living between the Indus and Akesines (Chenab). The authors of the *Vedic Index*³ do not accept Zimmer’s view, and observe: ‘This is in no way conclusive, as the Sibis, at any rate in Epic times, occupied the land to the north of Kurukṣetra, and there is no reason whatever to show that in the Vedic period, the Uśīnaras were farther west than the Middle Country’. Pargiter,⁴ however, holds that Uśīnara and his descendants occupied the Punjab. Uśīnara established separate kingdoms on the eastern border of the Punjab, viz. those of the Yaudheyas, Ambaṣṭhas, etc., and his famous son Śivi Auśīnara originated the Śivis in Śivapura and, extending his conquests westwards, founded, through his four sons, the kingdoms of the Vṛṣadarbhas, Madras, Kekayas and Suvīras, thus occupying the whole of the Punjab except the north-west corner.⁵ According to tradition, King Uśīnara was descended from the Ānavas.⁶ He had five wives, Mṛgā, Kṛmi, Navā, Darvā and Dṛṣadvatī, who respectively had five sons, Mṛga, Kṛmi, Nava, Suvrata and Śivi. The city of Mṛga was Yaudheya; and the *Harivaṃśa* connects the Yaudheyas with Uśīnara.⁷