Tribes in Ancient India c64.2

c64.2

The Surāṣṭras as a tribe must have existed at least as early as the period represented by the Epics. The tribe, together with its country, is mentioned in more than one connection in Vālmīki’s *Rāmāyaṇa*.¹ The *Kiṣkindhyā Kāṇḍa* locates the tribe in the west; for, in sending the retinue of monkeys in the western direction in quest of Sītā, Sugrīva asked Suṣena to send his unit to Surāṣṭra (among other countries). There are a number of countries and peoples in this list, e.g. the Kaliṅgas, Andhras, Cholas, Vidarbhas, etc. that cannot be located in the west; but the fact that the Surāṣṭras were included in the west division of India is upheld not only by a reference in the *Mahābhārata*,² where they are associated with the countries of the Kuntis and Avantis, but also by the evidence of the Purāṇas. According to the *Viṣṇupurāṇa*,³ they are definitely located in the extreme west, and associated with the Sūras, Ābhīras, Arbudas and Mālavas, all of whom dwelt along the Pāripātra mountains. The *Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa*⁴ includes them in W. India (Aparānta), while the *Brahmapurāṇa* associates them with the Aparāntas, Śūdras, Ābhīras and Mālavas, and describes them as dwelling along the Pariyātra (= Paripātra) hills. This geographical location of the tribe is also supported by the evidence of the *Kāvyamīmāṃsā*⁵ of Rājaśekhara who includes the Surāṣṭra country in the Paścāddeśa or west division along with Dasoraka, Travana, Bhṛgukaccha, Kacchīya, Ānartta, Arbuda and other countries. At the time of the *Mahābhārata*, the Surāṣṭra country was ruled by the Yādavas.