Tribes in Ancient India c57.5

c57.5

The Puṇḍras are mentioned in the *Sūtras* as well (cf. *Baudhāyana*, I, 2, 14), and in Manu’s *Dharmaśāstra* (10, 43-4)—here in the form Pauṇḍraka. But they are most frequently mentioned in the Purāṇas and Epics by the name of their originator, Puṇḍra, one of the eponymous ‘Bāleya Kṣatras’³ (see Vaṅga Chap.). It is said that Vāsudeva defeated the Puṇḍras along with the Aṅgas, Vaṅgas, Kaliṅgas, Kāśis, Kośalas, Karūṣas and others (*Mbh.*, *Droṇaparvan*, XI). Jarāsandha, king of Magadha, is referred to in the *Harivaṃśa* (Chap. 116) as having once held sway over the Puṇḍras as well as over the Aṅgas, Vaṅgas and Kaliṅgas. In the *Rāmāyaṇa* (*Kiṣkindhyā Kāṇḍa*, XLI, 12), Puṇḍra is referred to as a southern country, but, according to the Purāṇas and the *Mahābhārata*, the realm of the Puṇḍras seems to have been situated in the eastern division, as they are always associated with the Vaṅgas, Aṅgas and Kaliṅgas, as also with the Suhmas. This is also supported by Rājaśekhara’s *Kāvyamīmāṃsā*, which places the Puṇḍra country in the east along with Prāgjyotiṣa and Tāmralipta.⁴ This determines the correctness of the usually accepted identification of the ancient Puṇḍra country with what later came to be known as Puṇḍravardhana.