Tribes in Ancient India c54.11

c54.11

In the time of Baudhāyana¹ (fourth century B.C.?), the Vaṅgas were distinguished from the Puṇḍras, while in the Epics and Purāṇas, Vaṅga is distinguished from Puṇḍra and Suhma, as well as from Aṅga and Kaliṅga. According to the Purāṇas and the *Mahābhārata*,² King Bali’s queen, Sudeṣṇā, and the sage Dīrghatamas had five sons (with Bali’s consent): Aṅga, Vaṅga, Kaliṅga, Puṇḍra, and Suhma. These five were called the Bāleya Kṣatras or Bāleya Brāhmaṇas, and are said to have been the founders of the five countries bearing their respective names. In the *Matsyapurāṇa*, Vaṅga and Suhma are included in a list of the eastern countries (Chap. 114, 43-45).³ According to the *Mahābhārata* (XII, Chap. 5, 6607), King Jarāsandha is said to have extended his supremacy over the Aṅgas, Vaṅgas, Kaliṅgas, and Puṇḍras. Karṇa is also once said to have conquered the Suhmas, Aṅgas and Vaṅgas (*Karṇaparvan*, Chap. 8, 19), while Vāsudeva is said to have once routed in battle the Aṅgas, Vaṅgas, Kaliṅgas and Pauṇḍras along with other peoples. In the *Sabhāparvan*, the Pāṇḍavas are described as having subjugated the Puṇḍras and the Vaṅgas, and led their victorious army to Suhma (*Sabhāparvan*, Chap. XXX, 23-5).